YUVAL TAIB – “SHEMA YISRAEL”

In honour of Hanukah, a real miracle is about to happen: Yuval Taib’s album Shema Yisrael, the album of the decade, has been released. Taib has been a star of oriental music since the age of 8, his first album was released on the occasion of his bar mitzvah, back in the 90′s. Even then his father sensed that his considerable talent needed polishing and sent him to learn voice production and classical violin. Along with his school lessons, the youngster listened to the leading lights in Arabic music, such as Um Kaltoum, Abdul Wahab, Abed Halim, Frid Al-Atrash and others.

The young Taib began to collect records and cassettes, sang duets with the leading singers in the country and studied with top musicologists. Today, Taib is considered, despite his youth, to be a walking encyclopaedia on everything in the realm of Arabic music. An expert in Egyptian music, he takes calls from professionals seeking his advice on the source of melodies and maqams. Yuval Taib lectures in the history of poetry and piyyutim at various academic institutions.

His musical upbringing, the endless appearances and performances were all just preparation for this very album. The cream of he crop of talent in Jewish ethnic music comes together in this fascinating album: Shmuel Yona, Rami Lev, Arlette Safadiye, Yaakov Menashe, Erez Yechiel, Eli Keshet, Adi Leon and, the master producer, Haim Devash.

Shema Yisrael by Yuval Taib is packed with contemporary hits that span the spectrum of styles – from western to authentically Arab. One track sung in two languages: Wedding Night, is slated to be a moving hit at weddings, in two versions in Hebrew and in Arabic. The album allows Yuval Taib’s fans to at last hear the singles that have become hits: Am Echad, Yom Yavo & Halleluy-ah that feature on the list of tracks.

Click PLAY below to hear the song Shabbat