Record Reviews

NATURAL GATHERING ~ BEYOND THE WALLS HED ARZI 15328 (Barcode: 7293372532825) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 1985 - 1987 Released: 1993 5th 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 one song), three of which accompany texts by Rabi David HassinFind albums by this artist, one by the great Israeli poet Lea GoldbergFind albums by this artist (who seems to be his favorite as he returns to her texts time after time) and one by old collaborator playwright / poet Yehoshua SobolFind albums by this artist. One of the tracks is an instrumental. Bar expands his input and in addition to his vocals and percussion, he also plays flute. Violinist Samson KhamkarFind albums by this artist adds his usual wonderful ornaments and the four other members of the ensemble: Ellen DanFind albums by this artist – oboe, Menashe SassonFind albums by this artist – santoor, Yechiel HassonFind albums by this artist – guitar and Emanuel MannFind albums by this artist – bass (his fretless bass is quite extraordinary) create a superb fabric of sounds which take the listener on a magic carpet ride between North Africa, India, Persia and the Middle East. Overall this album is darker and more contemplative than the previous output by the band, perhaps reflecting the leader´s state of mind at the time. Nevertheless this album is surely another stone in Bar´s temple dedicated to preservation of the rich traditions of World Music, invigorating them with his own unique interpretation and blending. This magnificent music has little competition anywhere else in the world and hopefully more people will discover it with the passing of time.

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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.

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