Strains of a variety of modern jazz will resound across the sea and desert setting of the Israeli holiday resort of Eilat Harbor over the weekend of 10-12 November, thanks to the 36th Red Sea Jazz Festival.
Over three decades the festival has hosted players such as Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Al Foster, Ron Carter, Rickie Lee Jones and Dianne Reeves. Among the lineups this year are such international names as Avishai Cohen, Anat Cohen, Jacob Collier, Dennis Chambers, Eli Degibri and Asaf Sirkis.
Aside from the festival’s 18 concerts, the resort boasts many extra-curricular attractions, including fine beaches, desert scenery, vibrant night life and what the organisers call “never ending summer”. The Isrotel hotel chain is offering deals combining accommodation and entry pass to all the festival’s concerts.
To expand the musical experience, alongside the official concert programme there will be master classes and a nightly jam session, giving the opportunity to see festival artists in spontaneous, unscripted musical collaboration.
The festival programme day by day is as follows.
Thursday 10 November: Third World Love, with Yonatan Avishai, Avishai Cohen, Omer Avital and Amir Bresler; Anat Cohen Quartetinho, featuring the clarinettist’s beloved Brazilian music; chromatic harmonica player Ariel Bart with her quintet; multi-instrumental star Jacob Collier (sold out); Ukraine-born pianist Ruslan Sirota with a trio featuring Dennis Chambers; and the singer Orit Tshuma, who weaves together poetry, spoken word and hip hop.
Friday 11 November: the singer Ravid Plotnik, who combines hip-hop and jazz; the guitarist Ofer Mizrahi, who plays his self-built 24-string “Leviathan” instrument with his trio; lyrical pianist Omer Klein and his trio; fusion-oriented English saxophonist Emma Rawicz with her quintet featuring Kevin Glasgow and Asaf Sirkis; saxophonist Eli Degibri duetting with Aaron Goldberg, Omri Mor and Tom Oren; pianist Maya Dunietz and her trio; Mulatu Astatke, the Berklee alumni, “Godfather of Ethio-Jazz” and founder of the first school of modern music in Addis Ababa; singer Gidi Gov and his octet; trumpeter Giveton Gelin and his quintet; and Colombian pianist Jesus Molina with his trio.
Saturday 12 November: the soul and funk inspired pianist Cory Henry with his trio; and bassist Yossi Fine with his Supergroove octet, combining jazz and hip-hop.
Fuller artist details can be seen on the festival’s website along with links to ticketing and background on the festival.
