It’s nature’s clockwork: With the first drops of rain falling unapologetically outside our windows, a new season of meticulously timed jazz emerges to ease us into a wintry mood. Three original performances will hit off this season’s Jazz Series, the fifth of its kind, under Nitzan Kremer’s unwavering artistic direction.
Two of the three productions boast original collaborations between prominent Israeli and international artists, performed for the first time here in Israel.
***IMPORTANT UPDATE*** Due to the current security situation, Miguel Zenon’s concert on November 30th has been cancelled.
The Series’ opening performance on November 30th will host, for the first time in Israel, groundbreaking saxophonist and composer Miguel Zenon. Multiple Grammy Nominee and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow, Zenon is widely considered as one of the most influential and innovative musicians of his time. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zenon’s incorporation of classical saxophone with Latin American Folkloric Jazz music has produced great recognition and admiration from the jazz community. Much of this artist’s mastery emerged from his insistence on working with all different styles and genres in music; his work today is renowned for his ability to incorporate traditional styles with new and inventive melodies.
Miguel will perform with his longtime quartet: Luis Perdomo on piano, Hans Glawischnig on contrabass, and Eric Doob on drums.
The second concert of the series will take place a few months down the road: “The Magic of Sasha Argov”, a composition tribute to the Israeli composer put together by legendary pianist Steve Kuhn.
Kuhn, an original New York jazz artist born in 1938, has been composing, recording and playing with the world’s biggest jazz names for over fifty years. His collaborations include jazz’s great names – John Coltrane, Art Farmer, Joe Lovano and many more. He is still today considered one of the most unique pianists of our time.
Kuhn will perform together with Billy Drummond on drums, David Wong on bass, Yael Zamir on oboe and English horn, Yael Barolsky and Hen Shenhar on violin. Save the date for March 22 at 10:00pm.
The series will close with a compilation of Shalom Hanoch favourites, performed by the Anat Fort trio and Italian clarinet/saxophone maestro Gianluigi Trovesi. Shalom is anticipated to join in for a number of compositions.
Born and raised in Israel, Anat’s flawless piano skills move fluidly between jazz, classical and Middle Eastern influence. Her trio includes Gary Wang on bass and Roland Schneider on drums. Trovesi, a seasoned musician known for his prominent in the free jazz scene in Italy and around the world, teaches in Europe and has won numerous Italian jazz awards.
If his last series is any indication, Kremer’s impeccable taste puts us in store for a unique, moving blend of the familiar and refreshingly new. As he states, “What is unique about the concerts this season are the collaborative efforts of leading international artists, up-and-comers and veterans in the field. The music they create symbolizes cultural treasures and personal roots. In three performances we have wonderfully composed Puerto Rican tunes, an immortalization of the signature songs of Sasha Argov, and the energy of Shalom Hanoch – there is much excitement in the air.”
For tickets and updates, visit www.israel-opera.co.il, or call 03-692-7777. Tickets cost between 115 – 199 NIS. All concerts will take place at the Israeli Opera House, Tel Aviv Center for Performing Arts on 19 Shaul Hamelech Blvd.
