Record Reviews

NATURAL GATHERING ~ LOW CLOUDS HED ARZI 64642 (Barcode: 7293372464218) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006 9th album by Israeli ensemble Natural GatheringFind albums by this artist formed and led by Shlomo BarFind albums by this artist. Bar presents here perhaps the boldest change in the musical direction of his music and his ensemble as well, emphasized by elaborate studio technology, which produces a more contemporary ambience. Although the underlying principle is still the same: a mixture of World Music and modern sounds, the use of electric instruments, the production and almost rocky feel of the album take the music into a new dimension. All the music on this album was composed by Bar, to texts by Israeli poets and those written by ensemble member Yael OffenbachFind albums by this artist. Bar who sings and plays percussion and flutes, is accompanied by five excellent musicians: Nitzan-Chen RazaelFind albums by this artist – violin, Menashe SassonFind albums by this artist – santoor, Ilan Ben-AmiFind albums by this artist - guitar, Ilan AvivFind albums by this artist – bass guitar and Yael Offenbach – tabla. Together they create an amazing musical texture, unparalleled by any other contemporary ensemble I know of. This is a magical ride gliding over NY, LA, London, Paris, Tel Aviv, Marrakesh, Baghdad, and Teheran and back, a ride once taken will be extremely difficult to forget. It is quite amazing to see (and hear) a musician so open and receptive to new ideas, after following a specific path for so many years, like Shlomo Bar. Overall this is still some of the best Fusion between East and West music anywhere on this planet and definitely one of the best albums recorded in Israel in the last decade. An absolute must to any music connoisseur, who can recognize great music regardless of where it comes from.

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