Biography
Respectfully hailed as “the voice of the mocking bird” and “the Moroccan nightingale,” Emil Zrihan has transplanted the musical heritage of Morocco onto Israeli soil. With oud, violin, kanoun, and darbouka in support, his multi-octave countertenor has revitalized an eclectic blend of Moroccan and Judeo-Andalusian folk traditions, Sephardic and North African melodies, free-form mawals, and pieces spanning the Mediterranean and the Orient. RootsWorld observed that Zrihan “exhibits a startling vocal range in an eloquent, rhythmically sinuous repertoire.” Born in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, he relocated with his family to Israel at nine years old. Having performed professionally since the age of 13, he now holds the post of cantor at the principal synagogue in Ashkelon. He persists in delivering Moroccan, Syrian, and Egyptian material in authentic Arabic dialects. Although his larger company has sometimes numbered as many as 35 players on the road, he frequently appears with a compact quartet. His debut North American tour took place in 1999, with stops in New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Albums
