Ashkenaz is thrilled to welcome back to Toronto Ethiopian-Israeli dynamo Gili Yalo, last seen in these parts in his show-stopping, North American debut performance on the main stage at the 2018 Ashkenaz Festival.
Gili Yalo is one of the most intriguing new artists in Israel’s world music scene. Combining his Ethiopian musical roots with soul, reggae, funk, psychedelia and jazz, his soulful voice has elicited comparisons to Bob Marley. Singing mostly original lyrics in multiple languages (Amharic, Hebrew, English), and backed by a 4-piece band of guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, Yalo’s concerts generate an entrancing groove, beat and flow. His music is interwoven with his inspiring personal story as a child refugee from Ethiopia who escaped to Israel as part of Operation Moses in 1984. This harrowing but ultimately triumphant journey, made with his family and so many other Ethiopian Jews, provides the emotional base for his soul-stirring music, which brings new meaning to traditional Ethiopian music.
Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm
Presented by Ashkenaz Foundation, in association with Canada-Israel Cultural Foundation, and with the assistance of Kultura Collective
Get Social