Ladino music comes to JW3 in an enchanting solo show

Nani Vazana, one of the few artists in the world performing original Ladino music, weaves ancient Sephardic melodies with jazz, flamenco and folk. Her voice revives a nearly-lost language with modern flair. Nani brings a unique voice to Jewish music, weaving stories of exile, resilience and womanhood through Ladino’s hauntingly beautiful tones.

Next month, after winning last year’s Liet International European song festival for minority languages, Nani Vazana is performing an enchanted solo show at JW3.

Breathing new life into the ancient Spanish-Jewish language, Nani creates a bridge between the past and the future with socially relevant lyrics celebrating migration, gender, and female empowerment.

As a singer, composer, trombonist and pianist, her show invites the audience into a world that is both timeless and modern. Her songs intertwine stories of Nani’s grandmother with present-day narratives, blending the sounds and smells of the marketplaces with raw flamenco-inspired vocals, soulful trombone harmonies, and heart-breaking piano. All this is topped off with electronic tracks from her laptop, creating an immersive elemental soundscape.

“Her voice alone is mesmerising – pure and simple, powerful and precise. Her timeless melodies are imbued with the traditions and the emotional journey of the migrant people… With her trio, the sound world of fiery Spanish guitar and vibrant percussion is infused with the rhythm of the market-place, the melodies of joy and heartbreak, and the stories of people who left behind their homeland.” Manchester Jazz Festival

Nani Vazana is at JW3 on 14 September. jw3.org