Israeli pop divas capture fans with varied repertoire

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This article was published 18/01/2010 (6111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Israeli pop divas HaBanot Nechama (Hebrew translation for “Daughters of Comfort”) closed the Israeli Concert Series with world-weary tales of love and lies, magical kingdoms and fantastical rainbows that take you away.

The local show is one of only three Canadian stops (including Vancouver and Toronto) on a whirlwind 10-city North American tour from Jan. 8 to 23. Now completing its eighth season, the popular series is one of a kind that brings guest Israeli artists to the city to perform three concerts each year.

Hailing from Tel Aviv, singers/guitarists/songwriters Karolina (Keren Avratz), Dana Adini and Yael Deckelbaum first began playing together in 2004 as a way of seeking musical solace for various career woes. Their unique New Age folk blend of reggae, soul, jazz and blues influences immediately caught fire with Israeli music lovers with their self-titled debut album, which went gold in three weeks and platinum shortly after its 2007 release.

The 75-minute set (no intermission) kicked off with Lovers, immediately displaying the singers’ tightly synchronized vocals as they belted like banshees. Their strong rapport with each other and easy sliding between Hebrew and English throughout the evening quickly established more a smoky coffeehouse atmosphere than concert venue.

Grungy blues number Most of the Time showcased their versatility, including Adini’s throaty vocals, accented by her own tambourine as well as Karolina’s camel bells. A growling Deckelbaum traded jazzy vocal licks with Karolina’s falsetto like late-night club musicians.

Neverland was a real charmer with its wistful tale of travelling on a magical sleigh to Neverland. Deckelbaum coyly asked the crowd, “Do you want to whistle?” and indeed they did, joining in on the catchy refrain.

The simply titled Yah belies its reggae roots that also had the audience clapping along in a syncopated jamboree as well supplying an “ah ah” accompaniment.

The program included quirky fan favourite Flowers/Lihiot (including clever quotes from Mozart’s Queen of the Night), and the beautifully haunting So Far, which seamlessly blends both languages and received a prestigious ACUM (Israel’s ASCAP) achievement award in February 2008.

Some balance problems resulted from bottom-heavy guitar amplification that often detracted from the vocals. More banter, or at least a few intros, would also have created a stronger connection with the audience that wasn’t really established until halfway through the set.

The trio delivered an encore of The Angels’ Prayer (Tfilat Hamalacheem) for the appreciative audience.

holly.harris@shaw.ca