Mor Karbasi was born April 23, 1986, in Jerusalem. She is an Israeli singer-songwriter currently residing in Seville, Spain. She is renowned for her musical contributions to Ladino music. Ladino is an ancient language and musical style that emerged from the exiled Jewish communities of Portugal and Spain. Karbasi writes original music and performs traditional songs in Ladino, Spanish, Hebrew, and occasionally in English.
Karbasi’s mixed heritage includes Iranian (paternal) and Moroccan (maternal) roots. Her Moroccan Jewish grandfather had told her that “the blood remembers,” and she has a passionate connection to her Sephardic culture, which is expressed through her music. Karbasi’s family name Karbasi, meaning “canvas” in Persian, is indicative of her artistic lineage. Her mother, of Sephardic origin, sang Moroccan piyyutim and Andalusian ballads at home, and this was a significant influence on Karbasi’s music. Her grandfather Shalom introduced her to music at a young age, humming melodies from his beloved Morocco.
Karbasi’s first album, “The Beauty and the Sea,” released in 2008, was produced by Grammy award-winning producer Matt Howe and featured guests such as Trilok Gurtu, Kai Eckhardt, and Ronu Majumdar. The album received rave reviews from world music critics.
Flamenco is another important influence on Karbasi’s music, evident in the melismas of her voice and the filigree of Joe Taylor’s guitar. Karbasi’s captivating music takes her audience on a journey around the Mediterranean, to an age and civilization that has long since vanished, yet still exists in her voice.
Karbasi has performed worldwide, gaining many dedicated fans and followers. She has five albums released worldwide: “The Beauty and the Sea” (2008), “Daughter of the Spring” (2011), “La Tsadika” (2014), “Ojos de Novia” (2016), and “Saat Arahman” (2023).
Karbasi’s third album, “La Tsadika,” is an exploration of her Moroccan roots on her mother’s side. The album features traditional Sephardic Moroccan melodies and Karbasi’s own creations, with musical direction and creative input from guitarist and producer Joe Taylor, string arrangements by Tom Cohen, and collaborations such as percussionist Itamar Doari, Mark Eliyahu on kemancha, and flamenco guitarist Salvador Gutiérrez.
“Ojos de Novia” (2016) is s a thirteen-track album with Berber and flamenco influences, and various other roots reflected in the songs. The album features special guests such as Richard Bona, Kai Eckhardt, and the famed Tomatito flamenco family, who lend their unique sound to some tracks. Mor’s voice takes center stage, showcasing her remarkable qualities as she moves between different styles of songs. She collaborated with her partner, Joe Taylor, who brought a range of instruments to embellish the performances.
In 2017, Karbasi joined the Swiss-based world music band Beyond and participated in their fourth album, “Awakening.”
Discography:
The Beauty and the Sea (Alama Records, 2008)
Daughter of the Spring (Alama Records, 2011)
La Tsadika (Alama Records, 2014)
Ojos de Novia (Alama Records, 2016)
Saat Arahman (Alama Records, 2023)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.