Maybe because it is the Holyland, the mythical land of prayer and salvation, that Israel was the right setting for the premiere of Eyal Vilner’s latest musical exploration. Eyal Vilner’s Big Band is an established feature in the USA Jazz scene. Tammy McCann enjoys a similar repute in Gospel and Soul circles.
In a homage to Mahalia Jackson, Eyal and Tammy collaborated to create an original musical experience combining Gospel with Big Band Jazz which they premiered in Tel Aviv this past May. The result was two hours of sheer pleasure for music lovers.
Eyal’s arrangements are brilliant. One moment we are at a Gospel revival meeting, the next it’s the toe tapping sound of big band with shades of Ellington and Basie. The transitions are so smooth one forgets this is not normal to the ear of fans of either genre. Instead of a choir responding to Tammy’s call to prayer, it’s a quartet of saxes supported by the four-man brass line that answers.
The show opened with the “Rabbit,” an original instrumental composition by Eyal, before introducing Tammy. From her rousing “Come In This House” the audience responded with delig
