Yasmin Levy

Yasmin Levy is an Israeli singer who performs Ladino music with a modern twist, an infusion of flamenco in particular. Levy learned about Ladino music and culture from her father, Yitzhak Levy, a researcher of Ladino, the Judeo-Spanish language of the Sephardic Jewish communities who were driven from Spain in the late 15th century. Her debut album, 2000's Romance & Yasmin, garnered some attention, and her follow-up, La Judería: Ladino Meets Flamenco (2005), became more typical of the style that she carried forward on 2006's Live at the Tower of David, Jerusalem and 2008's Mano Suave. The latter charted in France and became a Top Ten hit in Sweden. ~ Jason Birchmeier