“Of Essence and Time” is a concert commissioned by Next@19th, looking to expand the traditional aesthetic without loosing the essence and the authenticity of Jewish culture present around the world, and, in this particular case, taking special interest in the Sephardic culture.

This concert feeds of common elements in the Andalusian and Sephardic cultures, transforming and shaping them in order to create a sound and visual universe, which is an important part of the musical life of the artists that make up the ensemble.

In J. L. Rodriguez’s compositions, we can appreciate the innovative and experimental character of this project. For example, in the treatment of the voices and audio archives, rescued from various parts of the Mediterranean geography and Andalusia as well as in the original compositions like “Fuego y Jazmines” or the musicalized Medieval poem “Katav Stav”, created for Susana Behar’s voice, in which flamenco and poetry aesthetics are joined.

In addition, we present several traditional Sephardic songs (La Serena, Los Bilbilikos, Adio Kerida) adapted and recreated for the style of this concert as well as several Andalusian popular songs, which traditionally have been known as having Jewish origins (Seguidillas Biblikas, Peteneras), bringing them all to a current musical aesthetic.

This concert would not be complete without the element introduced by Niurca Marquez’s dance, who takes the road of de-construction, as a reflection of all this cultural memory that although transformed through the Centuries, has maintained it’s essence alive and present.

This aesthetic, riding along between contemporary flamenco, traditional Sephardic music, popular Andalusian music and the Mediterranean elements, creates a new and particular sound that result’s in “Of Essence and Time”.

"I am not and do not attempt to be a work of fusion. I am the meeting of artists and their art searching for the essence of our past in present time; a space where Andalusian and Sephardic music, dance, poetry, and voices long departed intertwine. 

What I am today encompasses the legacy of my ancient and deep memory. It lives in these new compositions as well as in the old voices that come alive and are renewed.
I am merely a bridge that connects you to the path of Essence and Time.

No soy una fusión ni lo pretendo. Soy un encuentro de personalidades y de artes, en búsqueda de una esencia que se mueve en tiempo presente; Un espacio donde se entrelazan la música andaluza, la música judía y sefardí, las voces del pasado y del presente, la danza y la poesía. 
Lo que soy hoy lleva encerrado el legado de mi memoria ancestral y profunda; y aparece en estas composiciones que son nuevas, pero también viejas, que se recrean y se renuevan. 
Solo soy un puente para acercar el camino de la Esencia y del Tiempo."