Gilad Atzmon: new year, new CD, new tour

Gilad Atzmon and The Orient House Ensemble, cover feature in February's JJ, tour widely this spring to coincide with new CD Songs Of The Metropolis

Saxophonist and clarinettist Gilad Atzmon makes a near night-to-night tour of the UK with The Orient House Ensemble in the early months of next year, playing at venues across the country from Brighton to Edinburgh.

The tour will launch the Ensemble's new album, Songs Of The Metropolis, which celebrates sounds of the world's cities from Paris to Buenos Aires.

Gilad Atzmon, a writer and political activist as well as a renowned bop and swing player, has been described in The Times as "surely the hardest-gigging man in British jazz". Born in Tel Aviv but renouncing his Israeli roots to become a British citizen in 2002, he's outspoken on issues of Israel and Palestine; though for his upcoming UK tour he says on Twitter there will be "great music, less politics for a change".

Atzmon has been playing with The Orient House Ensemble for 12 years, touring worldwide and producing six albums. Along with Atzmon (clarinet, sax), the Ensemble is made up of Yaron Stavi (bass), Frank Harrison (piano) and Eddie Hick (drums).

Of the new album Songs Of The Metropolis (released 14 January 2013), Atzmon says: "This album is a pursuit of the sound of the city. It is an attempt to find that magic instant … when a crescendo conjures memories of a kiss, when a glissando flies the American to Paris."

For full tour dates and more info visit Gilad Atzmon's website. But note the 8 March date at Star & Shadow, has been cancelled after the venue's volunteer staff decided "not to allow this event". The reasoning behind the ban is not published but promised shortly.

Sally Evans-Darby

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Your Comments:

Posted by Andy Fall, 2 January 2013, 15:49 (1 of 5)

I thought I am going to read some Music Review and not standard bull about the person. Guess that his political views, made him famous as Sall Evans-Darby prints his story..... As in other places the Music should make him famous..... and not his political views. That's why he never made it in the US, as there Music talks and not Bullshit.

Posted by Mark Gilbert, Editor, 2 January 2013, 17:57 (2 of 5)

Dear Andy, sorry you're disappointed but perhaps you don't realise this is a news piece, not a review - the tour hasn't started yet. Thanks for the relevation that US audiences reject politicised music. I'm sure fans of Marvin Gaye, Max Roach, Charles Mingus et al will be burning their record collections en masse.

Posted by Andy Fall, 3 January 2013, 9:09 (3 of 5)

Mark Thanks for the answer.....; Fro your Knowledge,US Audiences don't reject politicised music ....... they just accept it if the person made his career through his music, Not like Atzmon that made it wise versa and that's the big difference...... The US Audience accepts your views, after your Music talks and makes it. Not in this case, that's why Atzmon never made it in the US, read critics about HIS MUSIC in the US, Standard and boring.............. Or in your case US Audiences reject or don't understand Jazz music.......

Posted by Terry Maxwell, 11 March 2013, 11:47 (4 of 5)

I don't get the above comments and I'm an American living in England. Gilad doesn't play "politicised music". He has strong views about the Middle East (and the rest of the world) which go against the grain of American foreign policy. He proudly supports the Palestinian cause and tries to explain this through his Jewish background. The other side to Gilad is his music which is a fusion of genres but overwhelmingly unique and highly creative. I've heard Gilad play live many times. His music is apolitical but his banter between songs can be on any issue. (Most Americans would call that freedom of speech). And Gilad's music certainly "talks" to me.

Posted by simi, 11 March 2013, 12:25 (5 of 5)

I would first listen to Gilad live at least once and then judge . . . thank God we don't live by American standards