Jazz Work Shop

Released in 1973, "Mezare Israel Yekabtzenu" was the first jazz instrumental album recorded in Israel. Founded in 1971, Jazz Work Shop was led by Albert Piamenta: a saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger of a family of Moroccan Jewish musicians. Piamenta gained notoriety and success in the 1960s, mixing imported funk, soul and jazz with Israeli and Middle Eastern compositions. In this project, he adapted Arabic maqams (the system of melodic modes used in traditional Arabic music), Druze rhythms, and Jewish Hasidic music in order to free Israeli musicians from established American standards. Armenian, Arab and Jewish folk compositions have been interpreted in a profound, mystical but impressive way, making this album an absolute gem for jazz collectors. The set was recorded in just one day at Koliner Studios in Tel Aviv with a quartet composed of Piamenta, Dan Gottfried (piano and, among other achievements, Red Sea Jazz Festival founder), Jerry Garval (drums, a student of Max Roach who played with Sun Ra) and Teddy Kling (double bass, member of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra). The album features six tracks of the finest free-jazz and was reissued first by Fortuna Records in 2014 and, then, by Visart Records in 2015.