Record Reviews

BALKAN BEAT BOX ~ BALKAN BEAT BOX NANA 6180 (Barcode: 7290010009824) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 This is the 1st album by Israeli Jazz ensemble Balkan Beat BoxFind albums by this artist, co-founded by drummer / composer Tamir MuskatFind albums by this artist and saxophonist / flautist Ori KaplanFind albums by this artist, who were later joined by vocalist Tomer YosefFind albums by this artist. A plethora of additional instrumentalists / vocalists guest on selected tracks. The album presents eleven tracks, all based on Folkloristic melodic and rhythmic sources. The ensemble founders met in NY, where this album was recorded. The music is an absolutely weird mixture of World Music influences, which originate from the Middle East, Balkans, Gypsy tradition and many other sources, mixed with contemporary rhythmic elements and Jazz improvisations, which make it completely universal. At the time of its release, the album was completely revolutionary and achieved instant popularity worldwide, both by “serious” music lovers and dancehall enthusiasts, thanks to its hypnotic rhythmic layers. The ensemble released seven albums to date. Overall, this is a brilliant example of a trend to create “universal” music, which takes different musical traditions and fuses them into a new aesthetic environment, all done with fabulous taste and imagination. It still sounds quite innovative today and is a great fun to listen to!

Updated: 02/05/2026Posted: 02/05/2026

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DANIEL SARID ~ PEARLS OF PERIL EARSAY 021 (Barcode: 7293627102124) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2000 Released: 2001 Pianist Daniel SaridFind albums by this artist is one of the most important representatives of the Israeli Free Jazz scene, which developed significantly since the 1980’s, when musicians like the renowned pianist and composer Vyacheslav GanelinFind albums by this artist immigrated to Israel and started performing and teaching music here. The ensembles led by clarinetist Harold RubinFind albums by this artist were also an excellent breeding ground for many young Israeli musicians, including Daniel Sarid, who played and recorded with Rubin. This album is Daniel’s first recording as a leader. It includes 15 relatively short composed pieces, performed by Sarid and drummer Hagai FershtmanFind albums by this artist. On five pieces saxophonist Ori KaplanFind albums by this artist joins the duo. This intimate setting is an ideal platform for the musician to express their abilities and the phenomenal interplay between them. Highly recommended ear-opener to connoisseurs of the genre.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

TSAHAR / KAPLAN / SARID ~ CRIES OF DISILLUSION EARSAY 019 (Barcode: 7293627001922) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 1999 Released: 2001 Assif TsaharFind albums by this artist (tenor sax and bass clarinet), Ori KaplanFind albums by this artist (alto sax) and Daniel SaridFind albums by this artist (piano) are typical representatives of the contemporary Israeli Jazz scene. They all left Israeli for the US in the late 1980’s to study and then perform and gain experience on the vibrant New York scene. Upon their return to Israel a decade later, they were already seasoned musicians. They integrated into the local scene, formed ensembles and started to record albums. This album, recorded 1999, puts them together in one ensemble for the first time. Each of them contributes compositions (all the music is original) and of course plays on the album, which was recorded in a quintet setting with Israeli bass player Oded GoldshmidtFind albums by this artist and US drummer Bob MayerFind albums by this artist. The music is great modern jazz, with some free elements, but mostly “conventional” enough to be accessible to most modern jazz listeners. Both the compositions and the performances are top notch and this is a valuable document of the local Israeli Jazz scene.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend