For many in Jewish St. Louis, the sound at the heart of this story may be unfamiliar — but it shouldn’t be. Known as Ladino, it’s ancient, emotional and carried across centuries by song. Now, less than a year after she last performed in St. Louis, Nani Vazana is coming back for one night.
Vazana will perform “A Second Skin” on Friday, Jan. 30, in the Strauss Black Box Theatre at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center.
A musical bridge between past and present
Vazana doesn’t treat Ladino like something fragile style that should never be tinkered with. She sings it, bends it and pushes it forward, pairing flamenco-leaning vocals with piano and soft brass. The music feels old and new at the same time, rooted in tradition, but clearly written for now.
That approach has earned her international attention. BBC Radio 3 has praised her voice for its ability to move listeners “from ancient markets to modern jazz clubs in one breath,” a description that captures how seamlessly her songs bridge eras and styles.
For Vazana, the goal has never been preservation alone. “I want the language to survive, and I want the music to thrive — not as an ancient historical form, but as something vibrant and contemporary,” Vazana told the Jewish Light last year.
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From niche tradition to global stages
Born in Israel to a Moroccan family and now based in Amsterdam, Vazana has emerged as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary world music. In 2024, she won the Eurovision competition for minority languages (Liet International), representing the Netherlands with her original song “Una Segunda Piel” (“A Second Skin”).
Her album “Ke Haber” (“What’s New”) climbed into the top tier of international world music charts, and her work has been archived by the Library of Congress. She has performed at venues and festivals around the world, including the Kennedy Center, the London Jazz Festival, Jazz in the Park in Romania, major U.S. folk festivals and TEDx Amsterdam.
Why it matters in St. Louis
For many American Jews, Ashkenazi traditions dominate cultural memory. Sephardic history, language and music often remain on the margins, even though they represent a significant strand of Jewish life. Vazana’s performance offers St. Louis audiences a chance to encounter that tradition not as a lecture or lesson, but as lived, breathing art.
Ladino may no longer be widely spoken. But through artists like Vazana, its voice still sings.
Event details
What: Nani Vazana: “A Second Skin”
When: Friday, Jan. 30
Where: Strauss Black Box Theatre, Kirkwood Performing Arts Center
Tickets: Available through Metrotix
