As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, true lovers of winter’s snuggest musical companion should be comforted by the following light at the end of a dark and frosty tunnel: ‘tis again the season of jazz, my friends! Now in its third year, and yet again under the artistic direction of veteran jazz collaborator Dubi Lenz, the Winter Red Sea Jazz Festival in Eilat will be warming our ears and souls for three days of some of the world’s most esteemed jazz artists.
For those of you bitterly recalling the last Winter Festival’s bone-chilling winds and too-few space heaters, you will be happy to know that no such wind should scare you away from the phenomenal lineup that awaits us. Intelligent folk have ensured that the concerts will take place indoors, including popular nightly jam sessions in various warm and toasty hotels throughout Eilat.
Without further adieu, some lineup highlights:
Stanley Jordan Trio: Earning a name for himself as one of the most significant guitarists in the 20th century, Stanley Jordan’s digital music composition degree from Princeton University led him to performances with legends such as Benny Carter, Quincy Jones and Dizzy Gillespie as well as four Grammy nominations. Famous for his two-handed tapping technique that allows him to play rhythm and melody simultaneously, Jordan is a top-tier virtuoso whose repertoire combines jazz, Spanish guitar and world music. He will be performing with Kander Danard on drums and Alex Blake on bass.
Erik Truffaz Quartet: French trumpeter Erik Truffaz is a great example of the somewhat elusive jazz-groove genre, mixing traditional jazz with hip-hop, rock and roll and dance music. Combining elements of the performance art of spoken word, Truffaz is probably the weekend’s coolest performer. His equally cool quartet include Marcello Giuliana on bass, Marc Erbetta on drums, Benoit Corboz on fender Rhodes and keyboard, and Anna Aaron as a special vocal guest.
Itamar Doari and the Unipulse: Master percussionist Doari joins forces with the stirring sounds of Spanish guitar, trumpet and baglama, a string instrument originating from the Eastern Mediterranean, for a vibrant amalgamation of Brazilian, African and Mediterranean beats. Doari is joined by Rony Iwryn on percussion, Eyal Heller on guitar, Eliyahu Dagmi on baglama and guitar, and Itamar Borochov on trumpet.
Motion Trio: Proof that Poland still dominates when it comes to eclectic musical trends, Motion Trio is an accordion trio combining elements of techno, dance, jazz, and whatever else is downright awesome. They are one of those ensembles that make you raise an eyebrow for a moment before uncontrollable booty shaking.
Yuri Honing Acoustic Quartet: This chameleon has been described by The Times as “One of the most creative and fearless saxophonists of the moment”. Hailing from Holland, the saxophonist boasts 18 album releases and a Grammy for his experimental versatility and expressive shifts between classic jazz, American musicals and dance floor songs. After collaborating with numerous leading jazz musicians worldwide, including Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheny, today Yuri is the leader of two bands: the electric Wired Paradise and the Yuri Honing Acoustic Quartet. The latter, comprised of Yuri on tenor sax, Wolfert Brederode on piano, Ruben Samama on bass and Joost Lijbaart on drums, will be gracing our stage this coming festival.
For a full lineup, ticket prices and locations visit the Red Sea Jazz Festival website. See you at the Red Sea!
