The Jerusalem International Jazz Festival kicks off for the third time, and under the formidable artistic direction of the revered international trumpeter Avishai Cohen, a variety of performances from the global cutting edge are expected to take place that will make you reconsider everything you thought about jazz. But for that to happen you have to decide which shows to go to, and how will you know if you have no green idea what is jazz from the cutting edge? That’s why we’re here.
Fred Hersh has been a living legend for four decades, and has long since become a symbol as the first jazz artist to come out of the closet and reveal his battle with AIDS. Whoever is considered continues the path of Bill Evans and a guide who has influenced generations in the world jazz scene, conquers audiences as a brilliant pianist and a gifted composer who defines a period. He had 15 Grammy nominations, was said to be a one-man mythology, and “when it comes to piano in jazz there are two ranks of performers: Fred Hersh and everything else.” He played with all the greats, won a Grammy with an album that put him on the pages of history as the first musician to play a consecutive week piano recital at the world-renowned jazz club, created a multimedia show and a solo album, wrote a book crowned as the book of the year On AIDS and raising awareness. Details and tickets here
A legend on a global scale. Fred Hersh (Photo: Mark Niskanen)
2. The show: Boom Pam and Kotiman X Malika Sahin
If you’re looking for a highlight that you can tell your pomegranate-eating friends about later, this is the show to go to: Boom Pam and Kutiman host Malika Sahin, a Turkish singer and composer from the alternative band Baba Zola, who has since soared with a meteoric solo career. Her songs adorn, among other things, the soundtrack of French film director Tony Getliff’s film, “Djam,” which premiered at the recent Cannes Film Festival. In 2020, she composed with Kutiman “Malka VeMelech”, a single that was recorded in the Hebrew (Shai Tsabari) and Turkish (Sahin) versions and was a great success. Details and tickets here.
Things that will make you say “wow”. Kotiman, Boom Pam and Malika Sahin (Photo: PR)
Contemporary: Julian League
Julian Liege is the world-renowned jazz coach and one of the contemporary stars of the Blue Note label! Plant as a prodigy today when he was only 35 he was already nominated for several Grammy Awards as a phenomenal guitarist. At the age of nine he has already performed with Santana, at the age of 12 he has performed live at the Grammys, and today he is a sought-after musician all over the world. Here in Israel he will demonstrate his skills with the members of the band Bed Plus. More details and tickets? Here.
What is he doing to the Amala guitar. Julian Liege Trio (Photo: Alex Shalof)
The Stunning: Dylan Balaki
Dylan Balaki (pictured main) is a DJ, producer, creative singer and trumpeter from Turkey. She takes jazz to a new place, such psychedelic electro jazz and trip-hopy, and she is indeed stunning and a leader in public opinion in Turkey and the world when it comes to pride and gender. She learned to play the trumpet at the age of 9 and has since participated in endless indie productions in Turkey and around the world. To the festival she brings a new spirit of young and rough electro that is connected to the worlds of R&B, trip hop, hip hop, electronic, Turkish psychedelia and pop. Dylan will perform at the festival with her ensemble of musicians and will perform songs from the debut album, Kuyu. More details and tickets
5. The Israeli: Amir Bressler
Amir Bressler launches first solo album. After years on stage and in recording rooms alongside the best musicians in Israel – from Kutiman to Omar Klein, from Avishai Cohen to Daniel Zamir – Amir Bressler, one of the most respected and busy drummers in the country, is now at the forefront. At the launch of the new album to be held at the Jerusalem Festival, Bressler will launch “House Of Arches”, an album featuring keyboardist and producer Rejuiser, Ravid Kahlani, Gilad Avro, pianist Nomok and trumpeter Sefi Zisling. Bressler is affiliated with the Tel Aviv label Raw Tapes and it’s going to be fun. Details and tickets here.
Tam Tam Tam, Tam Tam Tam. Amir Bressler (Photo: Yossi Tzabker)
>> Jerusalem International Jazz Festival, 7.7-5.7, the full program and all the details here in a click