Yehudit Ravitz

Country of origin:

Israel

Type of music generally:

Jazzy pop

Status:

Most recent release, Soofot Shel Chol (Sandstorms) (2012)

See also:

Wikipedia's entry on Yehudit Ravitz

Comparisons:

Sarah McLachlan, Basia, and perhaps Jane Siberry

Covers/own material:

Mostly own as far as we know

General comments:

She's an Israeli singer whose stuff I really like, but had despaired of ever seeing here in the States—until I found a CD of my fave album of hers, Silk Road. She records in Hebrew (which may block some from fully getting into the lyrics B-]), but the music is somewhat Ectoid, and she has a wonderful voice. The first time I heard Sarah McLachlan, I was struck by how much she sounded like Yehudit Ravitz, with Ravitz having perhaps a fuller voice. I'm only familiar with the one album and having seen her in concert, so I don't know if she goes into different territory on different discs, but I would recommend her to fans of Sarah McLachlan, Basia, and perhaps Jane Siberry's jazzier and less quirky stuff. (jzitt@humansystems.com)

Comments about live performance:

I saw her perform in Tel Aviv in 1986, and she's got a powerful stage presence. (jzitt@humansystems.com)

Recommended first album:

Whatever you can locate

Recordings:

• Yehudit Ravitz (1979)
• Galuy Vene'elam (Covered and Discovered) (1980)
• Bo'u LeRio (Come to Rio) (1981)
• Mila Tova (A Good Word) (1982)
• Derech HaMeshy (Silk Road) (1984)
• Ba'a Me'ahava (Coming From Love) (1987)
• Shem (Name) (1990)
• Vemeod Lo Pashut Lechakot (It's Not Simple to Wait) (1993)
• The Best of Yehudit Ravitz (1994)
• Great Hits and More—Wherever the Heart Leads (1995)
• Eizo Min Yalda (199?)
• What a Child (1997)
• Longing (2000)
• Yehudit Ravitz And The Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra (2001)
• Greatest Hits 2 (2002)
• Small Town (2007)
• Coming From Love: Caesarea 2008 (live, 2008)
• Songs From Home (2010)
• Soofot Shel Chol (Sandstorms) (2012)

Derech HaMeshy (Silk Road)

Release info:

1984

Availability:

Israel; can be found in some chain stores in the U.S.

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Comments:

I found a CD of my fave album of hers, Silk Road, at a local chain store. If anyone sees this album, snap it up! (jzitt@humansystems.com)

Further info:

Collaborations include Regularly and Singularly with Yoni Rechter, One Mind with Danny Litani, The Sixteenth Sheep with Yonatan Gefen, Gidi Gov et al., A Beautiful Tropical Country with Matti Caspi et al.

Thanks to Joe Zitt for work on this entry.