Itamar Even Zohar

Israeli guitarist-pianist Itamar Erez, member of American- Turkish Sufi multi-instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek band, revisits some of his best compositions in an intimate setting in his album New Dawn, a duo with fellow Israeli percussionist Yshai Afterman, a disciple of master Israeli percussionist Zohar Fresco. Tough Erez is the composer of all the pieces, except Afterman solo, the two share equal leading roles, demonstrating an almost telepathic interplay.

The worldwide lockdowns of 2020/21 proved highly fruitful for US-based violinist Itamar Zorman in his quest to seek out new repertoire. A virtual voyage around the world yielded a discovery of many lesser known and rarely played works for violin, which he presented in 2020 as a livestreamed video series entitled Hidden Gems. From this musical treasure trove he selected 10 pieces for his new album Violin Odyssey, produced by Grammy Award-winning Judith Sherman.

The mystery tour begins even before the CD is cracked and played: Zohar translates to "Sacred Light," and the album's title refers to a Kabbalistic numerical series. The band is built around the talents of Erran Baron Cohen and Andew Kramer, two London-based multi-instrumentalists who are inspired by their common Jewish heritage, plus assorted devotional traditions and Middle-Eastern musical styles. These sources are the epicenter of their kaleidoscopic techno and ambient soundscapes, adding a weighty soulfulness to the antic, fearless, yet oddly respectful amalgams that comprise the album. Sampled and manipulated voices of cantors, muezzins, and groaning Byzantine super-basses are heard, along with fervent exhalations from desert divas Oum Kalthoum and Dimi Mint Abba…

The music on this album is very communicative, melodic, easy-to-listen. Songs comprise original comnpositions but also improvisations on medieval song, Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit or Komeda's Svantetic. The music is very coherent, rewarding and delivered with best possible quality. And in Poland it sold like hell reaching in a span of weeks double platinium status. Excellent proposal for all who like beautiful music that has true jazz heart, free and improvising, but still is closer to popular tastes rather than avant-garde. (Source: kochamjazz.blogspot.com)