Lily Dahab
About
About
„In my world there are no borders, no flags, In my world, the colour of one´s skin or their religion don´t matter”, Lily Dahab sings her together with Aperdannier´s composition. “We are all children of the earth coming from the same roots, sharing the same sky.” Underneath this sky, Lily Dahab and her international band have put together a body of songs from her native country Argentina, as well as Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and Spain where she lived for a decade, the timbres and rhythms of Tango, Argentinian Folklore, Samba, Bossa, Bolero and Flamenco – and in their very unique way infused them with jazz flavour and elements. Her third album Bajo un mismo cielo is a deeply moving plea for creative togetherness in a peaceful world, as well as a treasure chest of musical gems from seven decades.
While Huellas largely was a homage to the broad musical heritage of her native Argentina, the focus on Bajo un mismo cielo expands to the whole of the Latin American world, including the Portuguese speaking realms coming back to the concept of her first album “nómade”. Furthermore, the quartet is complemented by numerous guest appearances from different nationalities which open a colourful fan of sounds. Quique Sinesi, Argentinean wonderful guitar player who accompanies her in all her albums not only with her unique sound of a seven-string guitar but as well as playing the charango, Needless to say, that the sounds of Argentina are still playing a major role. Lily Dahab is convinced, that “a great song can transcend the epochs” – as demonstrated by “Nada”, a tango dating back to 1944 and thus reaching furthest into the past. This tango with lyrics by poet Horacio Sanguinetti is now released from its traditional rhythmical corset and Dahab tells this story of love´s grief in an intimate dialogue of timeless drama accompanied first only by piano and the viola of Juan Lucas Aisemberg. “Yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón” by rock poet Fito Paez gets a real fresh coat of paint in her arrangement. And Lily´s warm and buoyant interpretation of “Zamba para no morir”, popularized by Mercedes Sosa, is a heartfelt display of her love for rural folklore of her homeland.
You may say that on this album Argentina acts as a gateway to the rest of the world. And since the sounds of Brazil have always been close to Lily Dahab´s heart, a neighbourly trip takes place in a choice of `Samba em prelúdio´ from an early age in duo with airy nonchalance sound of the trumpet of Florian Menzel, lends the arrangement a special touch. and “Nana das aguas” takes us to the vast spheres of Brazil jazz, its rapid chromatics providing the perfect opportunity for Dahab to showcase her effortless brilliant intonation. “Fato consumado”, another gem by Djavan, one of her favourite composers of Musica Popular Brasileira, comes dancing light-footed in the Partido Alto-rhythm and sparkling vocalises. “On this album, I wanted to pay particular attention to the exploration of vocal sounds and ways to create an atmosphere without lyrics. To me that was new and exciting territory.” The Uruguayan Candombe “Hurry” by Hugo Fattoruso is another example of Lily Dahab carrying this into beautiful effect – this crisp pearl of a song also being her first venture into this afro-tinged genre of the small neighbouring country. As its predecessor with “Besame Mucho”, Bajo un mismo Cielo sports a world-famous Latin classic: “Gracias a la vida”, composed by the Chilean Violeta Parra. This hymn now shining in a surprising new light, thanks to the unexpected 7/4 meter. And once again Dahab pays homage to her Arabian ancestry by celebrating Vicente Amigo´s “Tres notas para decir te quiero” with fiery passionate vocals and oriental percussion, evoking the colours of Andalusia.
Last, but not least, a very personal statement and besides the title track the second original composition by the team Dahab/Aperdannier: “We really wanted to include a Bolero on this album, so we finally decided to write one ourselves and fuse it with jazz elements. `Dejame llorar´ is a deeply personal composition, result of a very difficult period in my life, coping with the loss of people dear to me.” “Beneath the same sky” – beyond its universal scope the title of Lily Dahab´s album also has a very concrete and tangible meaning to her, as she relates her experiences of encountering refugees during her German lessons in community college: “I was deeply touched by the stories of a sixteen-year-old teenage boy who had come here on her own. Reminding me of my grandfather arriving in Argentina with just his suitcase.” Bajo un mismo cielo lends this conviction a musical voice – this album truly is a firmament of sound, each song a star, shining in equal right and light.
Lily Dahab herself and her vita seem like a perfect example for a life with no labels or borders. Born and grown up in Buenos Aires where she did her studies, then continues her professional Musical theatre career in Madrid and Barcelona. She is drawn to roles portraying strong women, like Grizabella in “Cats”, Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”, or Esmeralda in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. Eventually love beckons her to Berlin. Together with her partner, pianist Bene Aperdannier, she now begins to realise her very own artistic visions, starting a new succesful chapter in the World jazz music where she composes and produces her last 2 albums released in Germany. They are joined by some of the German´s first class musicians: Jo Gehlmann on guitar, Camilo Villa Robles on bass and percussionist Topo Gioia, lending to her voice a congenial environment somewhere between the stylistic lines of jazz, tango, latin and folk and a unique own sound, the German critic baptized her as “the exceptional shimmering voice like honey” or “the one who, with her voice kisses”. Her two previous albums nómade and Huellas and more than 200 shows have already won her a broad fan base – fascinated by her heartfelt vocal artistry, encompassing all the facets from exuberant passion to intimate melancholy. The press enthuses: “Shimmering between night blue and sun yellow”, or: “Every moment a feast for the senses!”
„In my world there are no borders, no flags, In my world, the colour of one´s skin or their religion don´t matter”, Lily Dahab sings her together with Aperdannier´s composition. “We are all children of the earth coming from the same roots, sharing the same sky.” Underneath this sky, Lily Dahab and her international band have put together a body of songs from her native country Argentina, as well as Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and Spain where she lived for a decade, the timbres and rhythms of Tango, Argentinian Folklore, Samba, Bossa, Bolero and Flamenco – and in their very unique way infused them with jazz flavour and elements. Her third album Bajo un mismo cielo is a deeply moving plea for creative togetherness in a peaceful world, as well as a treasure chest of musical gems from seven decades.
While Huellas largely was a homage to the broad musical heritage of her native Argentina, the focus on Bajo un mismo cielo expands to the whole of the Latin American world, including the Portuguese speaking realms coming back to the concept of her first album “nómade”. Furthermore, the quartet is complemented by numerous guest appearances from different nationalities which open a colourful fan of sounds. Quique Sinesi, Argentinean wonderful guitar player who accompanies her in all her albums not only with her unique sound of a seven-string guitar but as well as playing the charango, Needless to say, that the sounds of Argentina are still playing a major role. Lily Dahab is convinced, that “a great song can transcend the epochs” – as demonstrated by “Nada”, a tango dating back to 1944 and thus reaching furthest into the past. This tango with lyrics by poet Horacio Sanguinetti is now released from its traditional rhythmical corset and Dahab tells this story of love´s grief in an intimate dialogue of timeless drama accompanied first only by piano and the viola of Juan Lucas Aisemberg. “Yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón” by rock poet Fito Paez gets a real fresh coat of paint in her arrangement. And Lily´s warm and buoyant interpretation of “Zamba para no morir”, popularized by Mercedes Sosa, is a heartfelt display of her love for rural folklore of her homeland.
You may say that on this album Argentina acts as a gateway to the rest of the world. And since the sounds of Brazil have always been close to Lily Dahab´s heart, a neighbourly trip takes place in a choice of `Samba em prelúdio´ from an early age in duo with airy nonchalance sound of the trumpet of Florian Menzel, lends the arrangement a special touch. and “Nana das aguas” takes us to the vast spheres of Brazil jazz, its rapid chromatics providing the perfect opportunity for Dahab to showcase her effortless brilliant intonation. “Fato consumado”, another gem by Djavan, one of her favourite composers of Musica Popular Brasileira, comes dancing light-footed in the Partido Alto-rhythm and sparkling vocalises. “On this album, I wanted to pay particular attention to the exploration of vocal sounds and ways to create an atmosphere without lyrics. To me that was new and exciting territory.” The Uruguayan Candombe “Hurry” by Hugo Fattoruso is another example of Lily Dahab carrying this into beautiful effect – this crisp pearl of a song also being her first venture into this afro-tinged genre of the small neighbouring country. As its predecessor with “Besame Mucho”, Bajo un mismo Cielo sports a world-famous Latin classic: “Gracias a la vida”, composed by the Chilean Violeta Parra. This hymn now shining in a surprising new light, thanks to the unexpected 7/4 meter. And once again Dahab pays homage to her Arabian ancestry by celebrating Vicente Amigo´s “Tres notas para decir te quiero” with fiery passionate vocals and oriental percussion, evoking the colours of Andalusia.
Last, but not least, a very personal statement and besides the title track the second original composition by the team Dahab/Aperdannier: “We really wanted to include a Bolero on this album, so we finally decided to write one ourselves and fuse it with jazz elements. `Dejame llorar´ is a deeply personal composition, result of a very difficult period in my life, coping with the loss of people dear to me.” “Beneath the same sky” – beyond its universal scope the title of Lily Dahab´s album also has a very concrete and tangible meaning to her, as she relates her experiences of encountering refugees during her German lessons in community college: “I was deeply touched by the stories of a sixteen-year-old teenage boy who had come here on her own. Reminding me of my grandfather arriving in Argentina with just his suitcase.” Bajo un mismo cielo lends this conviction a musical voice – this album truly is a firmament of sound, each song a star, shining in equal right and light.
Lily Dahab herself and her vita seem like a perfect example for a life with no labels or borders. Born and grown up in Buenos Aires where she did her studies, then continues her professional Musical theatre career in Madrid and Barcelona. She is drawn to roles portraying strong women, like Grizabella in “Cats”, Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”, or Esmeralda in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. Eventually love beckons her to Berlin. Together with her partner, pianist Bene Aperdannier, she now begins to realise her very own artistic visions, starting a new succesful chapter in the World jazz music where she composes and produces her last 2 albums released in Germany. They are joined by some of the German´s first class musicians: Jo Gehlmann on guitar, Camilo Villa Robles on bass and percussionist Topo Gioia, lending to her voice a congenial environment somewhere between the stylistic lines of jazz, tango, latin and folk and a unique own sound, the German critic baptized her as “the exceptional shimmering voice like honey” or “the one who, with her voice kisses”. Her two previous albums nómade and Huellas and more than 200 shows have already won her a broad fan base – fascinated by her heartfelt vocal artistry, encompassing all the facets from exuberant passion to intimate melancholy. The press enthuses: “Shimmering between night blue and sun yellow”, or: “Every moment a feast for the senses!”
Press
“A bewitching voice! A musical explosion in which the traditional musical forms of Lily Dahab’s homeland fuse seamlessly with the openness and joyfulness of jazz improvisation into a single unity. As if there had never been any boundaries between them. Great album!”
– Jazzthetik, DE
“Great album! Charismatic and live absolutely convincing.”
– Kulturradio RBB, DE
“Lily Dahab succeeds in making a fusion of different styles in an extraordinary good and natural way. New and promising.”
– NDR Radio, DE
“Bursting with charismatic radiance.”
– Hessische Allgemeine, DE
“A voice like a kiss!”
– Badische Neueste Nachrichten, DE
“Intelligent, melodious and sure of itself.”
– Jazzthing, DE
“Tempestuous!”
– Rhein-Lahn-Zeitung, DE