The Many Voices of Daphna Levy: Jazz, Heritage, and Heart

Saying Daphna Levy has a musical pedigree qualifies as understatement of the year.

Levy, the renowned Israeli-born jazz singer who is headlining the Jewish Cultural Festival at temple on Sunday, comes from a family of musicians and singers tracing all the way back ancestors who were cantors in Latvia.

And about 10 years ago, she learned her grandmother’s last name, Pizov, originates from “pi zahav,” which means “golden mouth” in Hebrew.

“My parents and siblings are all very talented and used to play instruments but I am the only one who chose to pursue music professionally,” Levy said. “Actually, my parents never really had that choice, they had a state to found.”

When she was younger, Levy studied music and played the upright bass with different orchestras until she decided to focus on singing. A trip to watch a gospel choir in concert when she was 10 made Levy realize she was destined to use her voice.

Levy “blames” her brother, Ofer, for steering her toward jazz.

“As an avid music lover, he always played jazz records at home,” Levy said. “I grew up listening to Ella (Fitzgerald) and Louis (Armstrong), Miles Davis, Cleo Laine, Gerry Mulligan, alongside lots of classical music.”

Other notable influences include  Ben Webster, Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington, Billie Strayhorn, as well as iconic composers such as Bach, Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Debussy.

It’s a smorgasbord of influences which also describes her vocal artistry. From dynamic to gutsy and bluesy and sultry, Levy can do it all.

And career-wise, she seemingly already has.

Levy has sung at the Bansko Jazz Fest in Bulgaria, London’s Royal Albert Hall, and Croatia’s Zrinski Art Festival along with many jazz clubs such as Smoke in New York City, and The Baked Potato in Los Angeles.

Attendees at the cultural festival Sunday can expect to hear it all.

Accompanied by internationally acclaimed pianist Itay Abramovitz, Levy will offer a show featuring “love, enthusiasm and passion for music.”

“My crossover style weaves together jazz standards and originals with Jewish, Hebrew, Mediterranean and classical music,” she said.

Born and raised in the Tel Aviv area, about 10 years ago Levy joined her husband, Gabby, at the moshav (village) where he grew up near Ben Gurion Airport. She said they enjoy life in the “Countryside” with their two dogs.

Levy is scheduled to take the stage at 1 p.m. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.