Album Notes

Maya Raviv, Israeli born, came to Oklahoma to finish her studies in vocal music at Oklahoma City University-part of a joint program with a music college in Tel Aviv, Israel. Before all of this, Maya's life as a student took her through acting school and After graduation Maya began a career as a professional actress and drama teacher. Soon after, she began studying dance. Using her many talents in music, acting and dancing she auditioned and was chosen to be a part of a historical revival of one of Israel's most well-known and loved classic productions of all times,"HaTarnegolim" ("The Roosters"). After experiencing an acting career in the theater, she set off to realize her dream of studying music. Once in Oklahoma, Maya's longing for her homeland brought her close to the traditional Jewish prayers that she learned as a girl from her father and grandfather. Maya has since been welcomed in communities all over the country to share her prayers for peace and healing to the hearts and lives of all people.

Lanesher (Hebrew for "To the Eagle") is being created exactly three years after the passing of Maya's grandfather, Sabba Shalom,who is the inspiration for this project of love. This is a bond of spirit that spans three generations - and now to everyone who will hear these prayers. The texts are traditionally of the Jewish faith, but their spiritual implication reaches far beyond these boundaries to all of God's creation. The CD is a collection of eight Hebrew prayers (with printed translations in English) and the meaningfulness of each prayer is richly expressed through Maya's powerful singing and arrangements for voice and violin. The wonderful creative violinist is Kyle Dillingham whose playing is very unusual and full of inspiration. The intimacy of this setting is only deepened by the occasional addition of her father's voice, singing the blessings -recordings captured during an actual Shabbat dinner in Sabba Shalom's old house in Jerusalem.

Maya's deep connection to her spiritual roots, is now for others to revere through this awesome dedication to a beautiful soul - Lanesher!