BALADINO

Baladino Yshai Afterman, Daniel Sapir, Yael Badash, Yonnie Dror and Tomer Moked in Viroqua, WI's Temple Theater

Sunday night was one of those pinch me is this real type of musical presentations. Thanks to Arts Midwest World Fest and one of its employees, a Viroqua resident (LC) for ensuring BALADINO came to his hometown for their last performance during a 15 week Midwestern tour before heading to Germany and then back to Israel. 

Baladino, a vibrant, talented young Israeli folk band packs their concerts with Mediterranean traditional music of the many immigrants who now call Israel home. Mixing ancient and present day instruments and sounds with electronics, their middle eastern sound will be resounding in the heads of the attendees from their performance in the beautifully remodeled Temple Theater on Main Street, Viroqua. 

As is typical of the Coulee region, the audience arrived within 10 minutes of the performance and made up with exuberance and appreciation of any open seats. The theater filled to about 3/4 capacity. 

'Baladi' is Arabic for 'land' and one feels transported to another time and place listening to the haunting traditional melodies in both ladino, language of the Sephardic 15th century Spanish Jews and Hebrew. 

Yael Badash

Tomer Moked

Graceful, striking Yael Badash, lead vocal, learned ladino songs as a child and brought these melodies to the group and her husband of 2 months, Tomer Moked, played a fierce violin, guitar, mandolin and oud.

Yonnie Dror

Yonnie Dror added impressive soprano sax, clarinet, alto flute, ney, duduk, didgridoo, fujara and shofar. Daniel Sapir, a bit more subdued than the others was on the upright bass and Yshai Afterman rhythmically mesmerized us with the cajon, carbuka, riqq, bendir, Persian daff, tar, dahol, kastanyet, cymbals and bells. The male musicians also added vocals.

All present were treated to an evening of amazing musical middle eastern experience,  making the world a little smaller.  Thanks to the community for subsidizing Baladino's visit. Volunteer residents, local radio WDRT and WVRQ, The Food Co-op, Parrish Music and schools all played a part.

If Baladino ever comes near you, make it a point to go. Until then,
here's a small taste from one of Baladino's album Dos Amantes (2 suitors/lovers)::La Kumida: La Mañana

Check out other global cultural programs at
 www. artsmidwestworldfest.org