For the last several months viewers around the world have been treated to TV news showing Tel Aviv streets regularly filled with tens of thousands of protesters. There is no doubt that there are serious political divides. Yet amidst all the turbulence the music never ends. In April, less than a mile from the heart of the turmoil, the Israel Philharmonic celebrated Duke Ellington’s birthday. In May, close by, Shablul Jazz Club, hosted The Isradixie Band featuring Merton Kamn & Jacque Sany. June saw the annual four-day Tel Aviv New Orleans Jazz Fest in the same vicinity. In July it was the “Revolution Orchestra Plays Gershwin” with Shablul closing the month with Eli & the Chocolate Factory in a special lunch-time gig. All of this within the sound of the demonstrations.
The 5th annual New Orleans Jazz Fest in Tel Aviv was the major event with more than 100 musicians from Israel, Europe, and the USA. One of the more unusual aspects of this Fest was the number of first timers. Most festivals feature a consortium of regular favorites, in contrast, Ziv Benn, the impresario putting it all together, insists on bringing talent that is fresh to the Israeli scene.
This year he chose to pay a special tribute to the city of Breda in Holland, which annually hosts one the most respected “New Orleans Style” festivals held in Europe. He brought a group of outstanding musicians drawn
