The second of two new albums from emerging Israeli artists on Ubuntu following the excellent Walk of the Ducks from sax player Asaf Harris. This time it’s a young guitarist, Ron Magril, with another band of top Israeli players, notably the spectacular Ofri Nehemya on drums, familiar to fans of Avishai Cohen (bass) and Ben Wendel. Magril is currently studying at the New School in NYC, so this is early days.
Looking at the line up, especially with Nehemya on board, I perhaps hoped to find some commonality with leading Israeli guitarist Gilad Hekselman. Not so - the genre here is very much a contemporary take on hard bop, conventional jazz guitar rather than any progressive and radical collaborations outside the mainstream.
While the viewpoint here is rather retrospective, there is much to be enjoyed and admired in the sophisticated and precise playing. Nehemya does a great job of injecting pzazz and energy, albeit in a measured version of his usual asymmetric swirling stream.
The opening It’s the Cops is urgent but tuneful, with walking bass and swinging kit. For You slowly smoulders, showcasing Meidan’s lounge piano. Pete picks up the pace joyfully, with a bass solo interlude, and a bass intro to the next piece I’m Starting to Smile Again before a jaunty guitar melody takes off. Meaningful Moments is spacious and unhurried, reflecting the title – though even Nehemya’s artistry on brushes can’t save me from a verdict of cheese deluxe here. The remaining numbers are lovingly played but unremarkable to my ear – I’m sure others more attuned to the pre-70s guitar era would find much to enjoy. The album does close with a stand out tune - Africa, a tribute to McCoy Tyner. Fittingly, it features rollocking bass lines, jagged piano chords, harder hitting guitar and Nehemya, finally let off the tight leash.
With my expectations of new Israeli bands raised by Asaf Harris’ recent effort on the same label I have to confess to some disappointment with the conventional outlook here. The dominant voice here is from the US tradition and I’m left asking why these guys have left behind the rich influences from their own culture so evident in other Israeli jazz. Chris K
Release Date:
May 27, CD & Digital Formats Ubuntu UBU0106
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