The evening news usually depicts Israel as a country dominated by conflict with its Arab neighbors. As a result, most outsiders have little insight into what daily life is really like for its inhabitants. Comprised largely of immigrants, modern Israel is home to diverse groups of people who have come from around the world to settle in this cultural melting pot. Jews, Arabs and Christians live and work together peacefully in Jerusalem, a city whose ancient history and mysticism are held sacred to all three religions. In the bustling cosmopolitan Tel Aviv, nightclubs, boutiques and beachside bars are more common than bus bombings and missile strikes.
Nowhere is the diversity of Israel more evident than in its music. A beguiling fusion of European and Middle Eastern melodies with other elements from the vast Jewish Diaspora, Israel’s music reflects the multiple influences of its inhabitants. Putumayo World Music presents Israel - a collection highlighting a new generation of Israeli musicians who transcend the political strife depicted on the evening news. From Yemenite chants to Jamaican reggae, this collection represents some of the diverse sounds impacting the popular music of modern Israel.
