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Ofri Nehemya: Time Traveler

By Neil Duggan
May 14, 2025
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This is the debut album from Israeli drummer and composer

Ofri Nehemya

drums
b.1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Ofri Nehemya. It features compositions written over a decade ago that have developed and evolved over the intervening years as his influences widened and his career took flight.

As a 17-year-old Nehemya joined Israeli saxophonist

Eli Degibri

saxophone, tenor
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Eli Degibri quartet before moving to play on a global tour with bassist

Avishai Cohen

bass
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Avishai Cohen. His next move was to New York, where he recorded albums with

Omer Avital

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Omer Avital before a collaboration with pianist

Shai Maestro

piano
b.1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Shai Maestro led to him touring and providing the rhythmic centre for two excellent albums for ECM records: The Dream Thief (2018) and Human (2021). That experience has shaped his music, which blends fusion, contemporary jazz and Middle Eastern influences over the eight compositions that make up Time Traveler.

The album opens with "Drive." The track builds with tight drumming from Nehemya supported by acoustic bass from

Tal Mashiach

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Tal Mashiach, with piano runs from

Tomer Bar

piano
b.1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Tomer Bar and some inventive electric guitar from

Nitzan Bar

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Nitzan Bar . There is a change of pace for "Katniss;" Mashiach puts his bass down for a moment to open the track with acoustic guitar before retrieving it for a melodic solo. Piano and guitar fluidly weave around a gentle melody in this standout track.

Nehemya is in continuous motion on this album, as evidenced by "Just Sayin,'" where he seemingly fills every moment with his potent but precise drumming. This often contrasts well with Bar's melodic guitar runs. "Memories, A Mother's Light" is a more reflective composition; the gentle melody moving from piano to guitar as Mashiach anchors and Nehemya takes a step back. He returns to his propulsive best on "Armors and Doubts," as Bar's guitar takes flight after a melodic opening.

"Ten Years From Now" is built on a framework of Latin rhythms with guitar and piano building serpentine solos. Drums and bass build a jazz-funk groove on "Endless Universe" with Tomer Bar moving to Fender Rhodes for his solo. The album ends with "One For Myself" and if a drummer cannot end his debut album with an enterprising three-minute drum solo, then when can he?

Nehemya gives a taut, dynamic performance throughout, with his band providing a fresh and vibrant energy. This personal project blends rhythmic twists and turns, connecting the fusion and jazz-rock of the past with a crisper contemporary sound. Nehemya explains, "Before stepping into my next musical endeavors, I wanted to give these pieces the stage they deserve to let them shine in their own time." Clearly intending to close this chapter of his musical journey and move forward, there is much here for him to build on.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Drive; Katniss; Just Sayin';Memories, A Mother's Light; Armors And Doubts; Ten Years From Now; Endless Universe; One For Myself.

Personnel

Ofri Nehemya

drums

Tomer Bar

piano

Nitzan Bar

guitar

Tal Mashiach

bass

Additional Instrumentation

Tomer Bar: piano (1-6), Fender Rhodes (7); Tal Mashiach: bass (1-7), acoustic guitar (2).

Album information

Title: Time Traveler | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Adhy?ropa Records

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