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Alon Farber Hagiga: Reflecting on Freedom

By Jack Bowers
October 6, 2021
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Alon Farber Hagiga: Reflecting on Freedom

Israeli saxophonist

Alon Farber

saxophone
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Alon Farber's Hagiga (in Yiddish, "celebration") is exactly that—a warm tribute to contemporary jazz from the Middle East to South America and beyond, ably performed on the group's fourth album, Reflecting on Freedom, by half a dozen well-schooled Israeli musicians and—on several of the album's nine tracks—special guest percussionist Rony Iwyrn and vocalist Sarai Zak-Levi. Hagiga has been in the forefront of Israel's burgeoning jazz scene for more than two decades, thanks for the most part to bright and colorful compositions by Farber and other members of the sextet, Farber's splendid charts and dynamic blowing by all hands.

Farber's earnest "Reflecting on Freedom," inspired by saxophonist

Eddie Harris

saxophone, tenor
1934 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Eddie Harris's "Freedom Jazz Dance," follows the handsome opening number, trombonist

Oded Meir

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Oded Meir's free-spirited "Israeli Song." Meir also wrote another of the album's highlights, the gently swaying "Theme for Michal," which is reminiscent of Burt Bacharach's superlative score for the classic western film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Speaking of influences, the spirit of

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Carlos Jobim is very much alive on Matt Caspi's "You'll See the Way," the last of a trio of vocals by Zak-Levi (the others are "Israeli Song" and "Theme for Michal"). Percussionist Iwryn lends substance on that number, as he does on the album's first three selections and the buoyant Middle Eastern folk song, "Hammouda."

Besides arranging "Hammouda," Farber composed "Ima" ("mother," dedicated to Farber's mother who passed away in 2019), the ardently swinging "Fresh Start," introspective "More Monkeys, Please" and funk-based finale, "Farbalak." Farber solos perceptively on alto and soprano sax, as do

Yehonatan Cohen

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Yehonatan Cohen on tenor and flute, trombonist Meir and pianist

Eden Giat

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Eden Giat. Bassist

Assaf Hakimi

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Assaf Hakimi and drummer

Roy Oliel

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Roy Oliel round out Hagiga's capable rhythm section. A scrapbook of stylish universal music with a delightful Israeli accent.

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Track Listing

Israeli Song; Reflecting on Freedom & Freedom Jazz Dance; Theme for Michal; Ima; Fresh Start; More Monkeys, Please; You'll See the Way; Hammouda; Farbalak.

Personnel

Alon Farber

saxophone

Yehonatan Cohen

saxophone

Oded Meir

trombone

Eden Giat

piano

Assaf Hakimi

bass

Roy Oliel

drums

Sarai Zak-Levi

vocals

Rony Iwryn

percussion

Album information

Title: Reflecting on Freedom | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Origin Records

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