Sarah Aroeste - Monastir (2021)

"Monastir" is a musical tribute that interweaves Macedonian and Ladino songs in an homage to the lost Sephardic community of Monastir (now known as Bitola, North Macedonia). The birthplace of Aroeste's ancestors, Monastir was once a vibrant city where Jews, Christians, Muslims and more lived side-by-side for centuries...until WWII. Through her musical storytelling, Aroeste brings together over 30 musicians from 5 countries to celebrate the vibrant Balkan city that once was.

Executive Producer: Sarah Aroeste
Musical Producer & Arrangements: Shai Bachar
Mixing and Mastering Engineer: Tal Ethan Rom
Studio Engineer: Mimi Markovski, Studio Gimmel, Bitola, Macedonia

Participating Musicians (in alphabetical order):
Vevki Amedov – Macedonia (clarinet, Tracks 2, 10; vocalist, Track 2)
Sarah Aroeste – USA (vocalist, Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10)
Shai Bachar – Israel (piano, keyboards, Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10)
Sefedin Bajramov – Macedonia (vocalist, Tracks 2, 5)
Gergely Barcza – Israel (saxophone, Balkan woodwinds, Tracks 2, 7, 10)
Dan Ben Lior – Spain (guitar, Track 3)
Itamar Doari – Israel (percussion, Tracks 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10)
Yonnie Dror – Israel (wind instruments, Tracks 1, 5, 7)
Fima Ephron – USA (electric bass, Track 9)
Akiva Eskayo – Israel (spoken word, Track 4)
Yehoram Gaon – Israel (vocalist, Track 3)
Shay Hamani – Israel (electric bass, baglama, Track 8)
Rony Iwryn – Israel (percussion, Tracks 1, 4)
Odelia Dahan Kahila – Israel (vocalist, Track 4)
Talia Yona Kliger – Israel (vocalist, backing vocal producer, Tracks 1, 2, 3, 7, 10)
Rachel Kornberg – Monastir/USA (spoken word, Track 6)
Yael Lavie – Israel (qanun, Track 8)
Mimi Markovski – Macedonia (vocalist, Track 2)
Nasrine Rahmani – Spain (percussion, Track 3)
Dave Richards – USA (acoustic bass, Track 3)
Gilan Shahaf – Israel (vocalist, Track 4)
Uri Sharlin – Israel (accordion, Tracks 2, 5, 7)
Yehuda (Shuky) Shveiky – Israel (vocalist, guitarra flamenca, Track 8)
Yaron Suriano – Israel (acoustic bass, Track 7)
Helena Susha – Macedonia (vocalist, Track 7))
Tal Yadin – Germany (guitar, Tracks 4, 9)

Sui Generis Women’s Choir – Israel (Track 9):
Rinat Pardo Belinco
Sarit Chen
Michal Daboosh
Liron Levy Efrati
Elina Gal
Talia Yona Kliger (choir leader)
Dalit Adele Twizer

Estreja Ovadija Mara Kindergarten Chorus – Macedonia (Track 6):
Anastasija Angelkovska
Anisija Delev
Mila Drogiski
Marija Georgievska

Tracklist:
1 01. Sarah Aroeste - Oy Qui Muevi Mezis (03:41)
1 02. Sarah Aroeste - Od Bitola Pojdov (03:25)
1 03. Sarah Aroeste - Jo La Keria (feat. Yehoram Gaon) (03:17)
1 04. Sarah Aroeste - Jovano, Jovanke (feat. Odelia Dahan Kehila & Gilan Shahaf) (04:47)
1 05. Sarah Aroeste - Edno Vreme Si Bev Ergen (feat. Sefedin Bajramov) (03:34)
1 06. Sarah Aroeste - Estreja Mara (02:19)
1 07. Sarah Aroeste - En Frente De Mi Te Tengo (feat. Helena Susha) (03:03)
1 08. Sarah Aroeste - Espinelo (feat. Yehuda Shveiky) (04:42)
1 09. Sarah Aroeste - Mi Monastir (03:59)
1 10. Sarah Aroeste - Bitola, Moj Roden Kraj (04:01)