Record Reviews
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  | NATURAL GATHERING ~ IN A SECRET OF SOLITARY PRAYER
HED ARZI 64971 (Barcode: 7293372497193) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 2008 - 2009 Released: 2010
Moroccan-born singer / songwriter / percussionist Shlomo BarFind albums by this artist, the founder and leader of Natural GatheringFind albums by this artist, is an iconic figure on the multi-faced Israeli music scene. Since the late 1970s Bar and his ensemble consistently propagate an ambitious version of Middle-Eastern, folklore based but modernistic musical universe, completely unique and wonderfully rich both in traditional and contemporary musical ideas of amalgamation and transcendence of physical, psychological and cultural border lines. Initially scored, ridiculed and rejected by the Israeli Ashkenazi music establishment, which was completely Western-oriented and hold little (if any) esteem towards the treasures of Sephardic tradition, Bar persisted and refused to compromise his artistic vision. Three decades later, Natural Gathering and its music stands out as one of Israel´s most significant contributions to World culture, but remain somewhat estranged on the local scene. Each new album by this ensemble is a true feast to the ears and this one is no different. Recorded over a period of two years in Bar´s home studio, the album is deeply moving and presents a spectacular vista of sounds and colors. The lyrics include a wide variety of sources, from modern Israeli poetry (Lea GoldbergFind albums by this artist, Natan AltermanFind albums by this artist) to rabbinical texts. This time Bar uses also several songs, which were not written by him but are now part of the Pantheon of Israeli songwriting, in addition to his own compositions. The current version of the group features all-acoustic instrumentation (except for bass guitar), including guitar, woodwinds, violin and Middle-Eastern / Indian instruments like santoor and percussion instruments like tabla. Bar´s vocals lost some of its dramatic effect of anger and frustration, but are beautifully refined and expressive. This is a great album, any way one may wish to look at it (read: listen to it) and I can only recommend it wholeheartedly, hoping that more people will discover this treasure!
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  | 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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  | NATURAL GATHERING ~ ORIGINS
SKYTON 39144 ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 1979 Released: 1991
1st album by Israeli ensemble Natural GatheringFind albums by this artist formed and led by Shlomo BarFind albums by this artist. Bar, born in Rabat, Morocco, immigrated to Israel with his family as a child in the 1950s and experienced many difficulties and hardships the North African Jewry was exposed to upon their arrival in the newly established Jewish Homeland, which was at the time ruled and led by Ashkenazi Jews. The rich and colorful tradition and culture of the Sephardic Jewry was considered unworthy and lacking any cultural values and the establishment tried to suppress and eradicate it systematically. This process, together with poverty and social injustice, created a cultural and social conflict and unrest, which took decades to resolve. Bar, a natural leader and charismatic individual, was one of the first Sephardic artists to openly revolt against the cultural oppression of Sephardic culture, purposely returning to his roots and origins and proudly presenting them as valid and meaningful artistic qualities. In 1977 he formed the Natural Gathering ensemble, which was a vehicle to expose the riches and traditions of Sephardic musical tradition, mixing them with other folkloristic influences of non-Western origin, as well as Rock and even Jazz elements. This, their debut album, was an iconic achievement, which proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that cross-cultural Fusion is possible on the local Israeli scene and can be both musically and lyrically viable and valuable. Bar wrote all the beautiful music (except for one traditional melody) and the lyrics, written mostly by the playwright Yehoshua SobolFind albums by this artist, were full of sarcastic social criticism, as well as longing to the lost tradition. The inclusion of the Indian-born violinist Samson KhamkarFind albums by this artist, who possessed a virtuosic improvisational ability, enriched the overall texture and depth of the music. The album achieved quite a success at the time of its release, surprising both the public and the music establishment, and served as a model for many other musicians, who realized that they should not be ashamed of their origins. Let´s remember that this happened in the late 1970s, at least a decade or more before World Music became a recognized and respected musical genre, which proves how groundbreaking and prophetic this album really is.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | NATURAL GATHERING ~ WAITING FOR SAMSON
HED ARZI 14813 (Barcode: 7293372481321) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 1979 Released: 1992
2nd album by Israeli ensemble Natural GatheringFind albums by this artist formed and led by Shlomo BarFind albums by this artist. Recorded only a few months after their sensational debut album, this album presents the ensemble live at the legendary Tel Aviv club "Tzavta", which was at the time the most prestigious venue in the country and a heart of the Israeli cultural establishment. The fact that the group was allowed to perform there proves the immense success they achieved with their groundbreaking debut recording, slaughtering many cultural "holy cows" at the process. The album´s title refers to the anecdote about the Indian-born violinist and sitar player Samson KhamkarFind albums by this artist being notoriously late for their performances. The ensemble was a quartet at the time (the same lineup recorded the debut album) and included also guitarist Miguel HersteinFind albums by this artist and bassist Israel BorochovFind albums by this artist. It´s quite surprising to hear that the ensemble did not record here any of their earlier material, which appeared on the debut album, presenting a completely new set of songs, proving that they did have a wealth of repertoire in store. The live environment turns out to be ideal for the ensemble, allowing the players to stretch out and improvise extensively. The music represents an amalgam of Eastern and Western elements, both musically and lyrically, creating a first of its kind cultural / musical Fusion, which was a true Israeli music, perhaps for the first time.
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  | NATURAL GATHERING ~ WANDERING
HED ARZI 15495 (Barcode: 7293372549526) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 1988 - 1990 Released: 1990
6th album by Israeli ensemble Natural GatheringFind albums by this artist formed and led by Shlomo BarFind albums by this artist. Bar presents here another set of his original compositions (except for two songs), which accompany texts by Israeli poets or rabbinical texts, some originating in the Medieval times. Bar who sings and plays percussion and flutes, is accompanied by five excellent musicians: Samson KhamkarFind albums by this artist – violin, Ellen DanFind albums by this artist – oboe, Menashe SassonFind albums by this artist – santoor, Eli DigmeFind albums by this artist – guitar and oud and Emanuel MannFind albums by this artist – bass (his fretless bass is quite extraordinary) and a few guest musicians. Together they create a superb fabric of sounds which take the listener on a magic carpet ride between North Africa, India, Persia and the Middle East. The songs on this album are slightly shorter and more concise that the band´s earlier material, which allows for greater musical variety, making the album perhaps more accessible to wider audiences. However, Bar does not compromise any of his artistic integrity whatsoever. This is still some of the best Fusion between East and West music anywhere on this planet.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | NATURAL GATHERING ~ WOVEN THREAD / OUT OF BROKEN VESSELS
HED ARZI 64450 (Barcode: 7293372445095) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 1982 - 1985 Released: 2003
3rd and 4th albums by the great Israeli ensemble Natural GatheringFind albums by this artist, which was the first Israeli group to create cultural cross-over music, combining folkloristic elements (Indian, Middle Eastern, Sephardic African Jewish) with Rock and Jazz. Formed in 1977 by Shlomo BarFind albums by this artist, a Moroccan-born singer, songwriter and percussionist, the ensemble created a completely new musical universe, which at the time was completely revolutionary and sadly misunderstood by most of the Israeli listeners. Bar, an outspoken advocate of proper appreciation of non-western music, was often ridiculed and rejected by narrow-minded music critics and the ensemble´s music was almost never played on the radio. It took over two decades for Bar and the Natural Gathering to get recognized by the musical mainstream, a process that left Bar bitter and disenchanted. The group´s albums are all minor masterpieces of cross-over ethnic Fusion, with excellent compositions and superb musicianship, especially the virtuoso violin parts (often improvised) by Samson KhamkarFind albums by this artist. Bar keeps changing the ensemble´s lineup frequently, always looking for young and talented instrumentalists, who can play folklore instruments from all over the world. It is important to remember that Bar created this music before and away from any trends and fashions, out of his completely boundless belief in its quality and intrinsic values, rather than in pursuit of fame and fortune (which he did not achieve to this very day). Therefore his work remains true to the spirit of the music and is devoid of all plagiarism and commercialism. These two early albums are absolute classics of the genre and remain to this day as milestones of the Israeli music heritage. A must for anybody who loves cross-over ethnic Fusion!
| | | CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
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