The Jazz Scene: don’t miss November’s Israeli JazzPhest

Sixty or so years ago, European jazz musicians were thought to be inferior to American players. With a couple of exceptions, that view was accurate. Things began to change in the mid-1950s, and today, there likely isn’t a country overseas that hasn’t produced world-class artists. Israel, in particular, since the 2007 U.S. breakthrough of the Cohens — reedwoman Anat and bassist Avishai — has been “the source of an almost miraculous outpouring of talent,” says Jazz Times. Ample evidence of what Israel has to offer jazz-wise will be on view this month at the 7th Annual Israeli JazzPhest, running November 7-16. Here’s the lineup:

On November 7, flutist Mattan Klein and his ensemble pay tribute to the late Israeli lyricist/composer, Naomi Shemer. This group effectively combines almost every musical genre, from Afro-Cuban to Country and Western. This free concert takes place at Congregation Beth Emeth in Wilmington and begins at 8pm.

Accordionist Uri Sharlin and the DogCat Ensemble featuring flutist Itai Kriss, another cutting-edge World Music group, will perform at a jazz brunch at World Café Live on November 9. Showtime is noon, doors open at 11am ($15).

On November 15 at 8pm at the Painted Bride Art Center, Grammy Award-winning clarinetist Oran Etkin returns to Philadelphia with his newest project, “Gathering Light” ($25-$30). Etkin's innovative compositions interweave melodies and rhythms from around the world.

Closing out the “phest” at 7pm on November 16 at the Painted Bride is “Yemen Blues,” created by Yemenite singer Ravid Kahalani ($25-$30). "Yemen Blues" is another Israeli genre bender by way of influences of funk, mambo, and the music of West Africa. And yes, you can dance to it.

The Phest is made possible in part with support from the Center for Israel and Overseas of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

Other happenings

Philadelphia bass giant Christian McBride is turning radio host. The Grammy Award-winning artist will host “Jazz Night in America,” a weekly program produced by NPR, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Newark’s WGBO Radio. The one-hour program will feature live performances from across the country along with McBride’s commentary on the music and musicians. The show will air on WRTI FM every Sunday from 8-9pm.

Alan Segal’s nonprofit, The Jazz Sanctuary, is unique in that it uses a core group of regulars, led by Segal on bass, with special guests. Segal’s concerts are presented in area churches and are free, though donations are invited. Segal has been putting on some 40 concerts per season for the last five years, and the musical value is high. Segal’s Quintet, with guest vibist Randy Sutin, will appear at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Phoenixville on November 17, and at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Spring House, PA, on November 20.

Vocalist/guitarist/composer Phyllis Chapell has been entertaining, charming, and delighting audiences with her group, Siora, for years. To call her music simply “World Music” is an understatement, as among other things, she offers a combination of ethno jazz, nu-jazz, fusion, folk, and pop, and sings in, count ‘em, 13 languages. Chapell will appear on November 7 at the Steel City Coffee House in Phoenixville, and on November 15, with saxophonist Kenny Ulansey, at Desert Rose in Media, as part of Media’s “Jazz By Night” celebration.

Every so often, I get to hear — and work with — one of Philadelphia’s young lions whom I previously knew only by reputation. One such player is alto saxophonist Jon Katz, an incredible artist whose playing shows the influence of everyone from David Sanborn to Ornette Coleman. Technically, he’s extraordinary. Katz pops up at sessions all over town, and can be heard the first Tuesday of every month with guitarist Bob Wilson’s Quartet at 34 East Tavern in Ambler.

Editor's note: Revised on November 5, 2014 to reflect correct gender of Anat Cohen.