Coming up soon on the 2012/13 Jazz Series Lineup is one of jazz’s most esteemed pianists, the legendary Steve Kuhn, in his first ever performance in Israel. Accompanied by an ensemble of strings and oboe, Kuhn will be performing a tribute to Sasha Argov on March 22nd at the Israeli Opera House in a moving performance entitled “The Magic of Sasha Argov”.
The late Israeli singer, composer and Israel Prize Laureate Sasha Argov holds an inimitable place in the hearts of many Israelis and jazz enthusiasts worldwide. His songs and ballads written for and about the Israeli Defense Forces have remained some of the nation’s most recognized tunes, representing a poignant nostalgia of Israeli cultural history. Kuhn’s Israeli debut and homage to the revered maestro marks a significant contribution to cultural collaboration, preservation, and the timelessness of musical classics. The performance will premier a collection of popular Argov songs such as “Purple Dress”, “This Night” and “If You Like”, arranged in jazz structure by the prominent Argentinian composer Carlos Frenzetti and performed by Kuhn and a diverse ensemble of international and Israeli musicians.
Kuhn, renowned as one of the most sophisticated and emotive pianists in jazz, has in the past half-century created an impressive and acclaimed discography and has led trios of some of the world’s best musicians. He continues to reinterpret jazz through world tours and collaborations on behalf of his latest album Wisteria. His ability to move fluidly between the deep, ethereal lower register to a vibrant, wistful upper register is consistently visceral, and his years in the game have led to an evocative canon of traditional and modern sounds.
Credit is due to Nitzan Kremer, seasoned musical director of the Israeli Jazz Series, for stimulating the recreation of Argov classics in Kuhn’s prolific piano work. Notorious for his ability to piece together distinct musical tendencies to create fresh, dynamic collaborations, it seems as if Kremer has yet again succeeded in finding just the right ingredients to keep the music alive, kicking and appropriately contemporary.
Joining Steve Kuhn is Billy Drummond on drums, David Wong on bass, Yael Zamir on oboe, Yael Barolsky and Hen Shenhar on violin, Amit Landau on viola, and Hila Karny on cello. Catch the performance on Friday, March 22nd at the Israeli Opera House. For tickets, call 03-6927777 or visit www.israel-opera.co.il.
