Songs Of The Metropolis Is Out Today

January 22, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble

Songs Of The Metropolis is now available on Amazon.co.uk

Album Launch @ Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London February 21–23 / www.pizzaexpresslive.com / 020 7437 9595

Listen to Scarborough

Listen to Tel Aviv

Listen to Manhattan

Listen to Moscow

Watch the film: http://youtu.be/hmWtlaug8TQ

‘A subtle blend of East and West, that’s brutal and beautiful’ BBC.

A hard-hitting but wide-ranging set from an admirably tight and robust band led by one of the most charismatic and focused reedsmen on the planet. LondonJazz

Atzmon and the excellent pianist Frank Harrison do to the old parsley-sage tune what John Coltrane and McCoy Tyner did to My Favourite Things Irish Time ****

Conjuring an atmosphere of evocative cinematic suggestion BBC Music Review

Peon to a recent past, when urban spaces belonged to the people who lived in them, and cities had distinct emotional characters Financial Times ****

‘The best musician living in the world today’ Robert Wyatt

Gilad Atzmon - clarinet, sax, Yaron Stavi - bass, Eddie Hick - drums, Frank Harrison - piano.

Tour Dates (Europe, Japan, South America)

January

24 With Pete Oxley's 4tet @ The Spin Oxford / www.spinjazz.com *

25 The Victory Club, Cheltenham / www.cheltenhamjazz.co.uk / 01242 234488

27 Hen and Chicken, Bristol / http://jazzata.com/Venues.html / 07766 741 417

31 with Graham York's trio @ The Blue Vanguard, Exeter *

February

1 Fleece Jazz, Suffolk / www.dovbear.co.uk/fleece / 01787 211865

2 The 606 Club, London / www.606club.co.uk / 020 7352 5953

5 Brook Theatre, Chatham / http://tickets.medway.gov.uk/ 01634 338338

8 St Mary's Church, Wivenhoe / www.wivenhoeevents.blogspot.co.uk / 07957 958724

9 Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth / www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk / 01970 623232

10 The Swan Hotel, Abergavenny (lunch time) / http://bmjazz.tumblr.com/

10 Chapel Arts, Bath (evening) / www.chapelarts.org / 01225 461700

14 The Boat House, Broxbourne / www.broxbournerowingclub.org/jazz / 01992 442263

15 The Verdict, Brighton / www.verdictjazz.co.uk / 01273 674847

20 Old Brown Jug, Newcastle Under Lyme / www.oldbrownjug.com / 01782 711393

21–23 Album Launch Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London / www.pizzaexpresslive.com / 020 7437 9595

Slave!

January 21, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

"America is enslaved by the Jewish Lobby"

Londonjazz CD Review - Songs of the Metropolis

January 21, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

Gilad Atzmon & the Orient House Ensemble - Songs of the Metropolis
(World Village 450024. CD review by Chris Parker)

For this, his seventh album with ‘the hardest-working band in jazz’, the Orient House Ensemble (which has been working and touring the world together for twelve years now), Gilad Atzmon has taken as his theme the ability, as he sees it, of the song to ‘counter detachment and alienation’ courtesy of the idea that ‘each city ha[s] a melody, a resonance, a bell, an instrument, a voice’, and that, consequently, ‘beauty is perhaps the last form of spiritual resistance’ to the contemporary malaise for which ‘the planet weeps’.

His band – keyboard player Frank Harrison, bassist Yaron Stavi and drummer Eddie Hick – has the ability to transform itself from a hard-driving acoustic jazz ensemble (their version of ‘Scarborough Fair’, for instance, develops into an almost Coltraneish polyrythmic thrash) into an elegant but punchy fusion band at the flick of a switch, so the various atmospheres Atzmon wishes to conjure up (Paris’s ‘love’, Tel Aviv’s ‘tragedy’, Buenos Aires’ ‘pathos’, Vienna’s sweet charm etc.) are all unfussily evoked by a series of compositions that, while they ostensibly bring out his more contemplative side (and his clarinet playing, in particular, is wonderfully expressive and considered), contain all the steeliness and controlled passion and power customarily associated with Atzmon’s music.

Harrison is all lyrical fluency one minute, operating on acoustic piano, then colouring and shading the next by resorting to everything from Fender Rhodes to glockenspiel. Hicks and Stavi are characteristically alert and vigorous throughout, and overall this is a hard-hitting but wide-ranging set from an admirably tight and robust band led by one of the most charismatic and focused reedsmen on the planet.

The Times - Gilad Atzmon: Songs of the Metropolis, Album Review

January 21, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

John Bungey
January 19 2013

"It’s perhaps ironic that the Israeli-born saxophonist who has fused sounds of the Middle East with US jazz so skilfully should make an album lamenting the loss of local musical identities in a globalised world. Defying bland homogeneity, the saxophonist has composed tunes for his band, the Orient House Ensemble, to celebrate the musical traits of eight cities. Among them, Manhattan is brisk and funky; Buenos Aires is dark and smouldering; and decadent Berlin has clearly had one too many to drink. But it may well be the inspired detour to little Scarborough and its fair that draws the biggest cheers out on tour." (World Village; out Mon)

Gilad Atzmon on Jeff Rense Radio Show Jan 2013

January 20, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

I spoke for the first time about my future research projects. The Spanish Civil War being a Jewish 'progressive' interventionist war. Progressiveness as a form of Choseness, History as Concealment, Jewish power within the Left and beyond.

I will use this opportunity to thank Jeff for his continuous support and his relentless struggle to promote the prospect of a better future.

The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics, the lobby, the power and Jewish 'progressive' spin in particular

Susan Abulhawa PennBDS Opening Keynote

January 20, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

Susan Abulhawa PennBDS Opening Keynote from PennBDS on Vimeo.

Pure Beauty

January 20, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

This Is One Of My Most Interesting TV Interviews Ever

January 20, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

Gilad Atzmon With Zeinab Assaffar On Al Mayadeen TV

This is probably the clearest interview I have given about my thoughts, The Wandering Who, Israel. Judaism, Zionism, Jewishness, Palestine, AZZ, identity vs. identification, the 'left', One State Solution and more.

Part 1

http://youtu.be/yKHXEUChKn0

Part 2

http://youtu.be/HGPrd3JtAXs

The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics, the lobby, the power and Jewish 'progressive' spin in particular

Tribally United

January 20, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

By Gilad Atzmon

As one would expect the bond between the Islamphobic Zionists, the so-called ‘progressive’ Jews and the Red Sabbath Goyim is tightening up. Once again, I am in the centre of it all. Harry’s Place, The Jew Sans Frontieres Mark Elf, and the tribally led Workers Liberty are pretty annoyed at me for exposing the ‘kosher’ sinister motivation behind the slander campaign against Martin Smith, the veteran SWP’s secretary accusing him of being a sex offender and a rapist.

However, I have now read the SWP report on the Martin Smith affair on Socialist Unity, another Zionised ‘Red’ outlet known to many of us as Socialist Jewnity. The document is written in an archaic revolutionary language and is at parts pretty amusing. However, it is obviously clear that the SWP went out of its way to investigate the allegations against Smith. It called a ‘disputes committee’ made of seven ‘female comrades’ and one male. They interviewed all parties involved and came to the conclusion that Smith is innocent.

Sax Offender Vs. Progressive Rapists

January 18, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

By Gilad Atzmon

Once again leading UK AZZs , their Sabbath Goyim (Laurie Penny and Richard Seymour) and Islamophobic Hasbara outlet Harry’s Place have been caught together in bed. The exact same Judeocentric tribal coalition that, a year and a half ago, was formed to wreck my career (and failed) is now pursuing Martin Smith AKA Comrade Delta, former secretary of the UK SWP (Socialist Workers Party) who, they insist, is a ‘sex offender’.

Between 2005-10 I worked closely with Martin and the SWP. At the time I was the SWP’s official Kletzmer. I toured with Martin, performed and spoke in quite a few of those Red gatherings. I met some very nice people in the SWP, but I also came across their many Jewish gate-keepers and tribal operators. But the one thing I never detected in any of those political gathering was a trace of libidinal enthusiasm let alone sexual desire. I assumed at the time that these militant young Marxists had decided to postpone having sex until after the revolution.

However, it didn’t take long to realise that Martin Smith was not being pursued because he is a ‘sex offender’ – he surely isn’t – no, our so-called ‘progressive’ tribals chase Smith because he is a Jazz lover and an enthusiastic fan of my music. They harass him because he gave me a platform in spite of the Jewish demand to ban me. They want to bring Martin Smith down simply because he didn’t obey his tribal masters. So If anything, it is Martin who is the rape victim in this saga – he is punished because he refused to bow down to the tribal junta.

Irish Times-Songs of the Metropolis (4 Stars)

January 18, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2013/0118/1224328981494.html

****

Gilad Atzmon

CORMAC LARKIN

Songs of the Metropolis World Village ****

This dissident Israeli musician, philosopher and sometime Blockhead seems condemned, if only by his own principles, to wander the world playing music. Atzmon is a thoughtful and articulate opponent of Zionism in his books and articles, so when he picks up one of his many horns it’s clear that there’s more than just music at stake. On Songs of the Metropolis, Atzmon makes a virtue of his peripatetic existence, offering eight fine original compositions inspired by cities around the world where he has performed, from Paris and Berlin to Buenos Aires and his native Tel Aviv. But perhaps the standout is the album’s only cover, an energetic reworking of Scarborough Fair, in which Atzmon and the excellent pianist Frank Harrison do to the old parsley-sage tune what John Coltrane and McCoy Tyner did to My Favourite Things. gilad.co.uk

Amazon.co.uk

What Dershowitz & Abunimah have in common? One simple wet dream (short video, very funny)

January 17, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics in general and Jewish 'progressive' spin in particular Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

BBC Review - Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble Songs of the Metropolis Review

January 15, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

A calmer-than-usual concept set from the virtuoso saxophonist.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/cbzb

Martin Longley 2013-01-15

Reedsman Gilad Atzmon is renowned for his virtuoso, high-speed, post-bop attack, and also for his equally hyperactive personality. This concept album explores a highly alternative resting ground, where nearly every song is a ballad, and even the occasionally faster-paced tunes emit an aura of relative calm.

Atzmon’s concept is to dedicate his pieces to individual cities, inevitably conjuring an atmosphere of evocative cinematic suggestion. Although this Israeli wit has long resided in London, that’s one of the obvious cities missing from the tracklisting. Instead, Atzmon skirts from Berlin to Buenos Aires, and from Scarborough to Somewhere in Italy.

Some of his followers might find this album frustratingly reflective, but Atzmon should be commended for changing his pace, and opening up his compositional space. It’s an imaginative side-step, and there are already many other Atzmon recordings that capture his fully accelerated soloing skills.

4 Stars on FT - Gilad Atzmon & the Orient House Ensemble: Songs of the Metropolis

January 12, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

ft.com

By Mike Hobart

The saxophonist/clarinettist eloquently mixes modal jazz, Middle Eastern scales and funky beats

Gilad Atzmon’s seventh album with his long-running quartet is a peon to a recent past, when urban spaces belonged to the people who lived in them, and cities had distinct emotional characters.

The saxophonist/clarinettist portrays the idiosyncrasies with a masterly blend of controlled passion and sharp focus, eloquently mixing modal jazz, Middle Eastern scales and funky beats.

“Vienna” is captured with a charming waltz, tragedy-haunted “Tel Aviv” with a funk-driven mash-up and “Buenos Aires” with a haunting, stately theme that gains pathos from an echo of accordion.

Gilad Atzmon & the Orient House Ensemble

Songs of the Metropolis

(World Village)

Amazon.co.uk

When I was seven, Jesus cried…

January 11, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

By Nahida the Exiled Palestinian

nahidaexiledpalestinian.wordpress.com

When I was seven,
Jesus cried…

When I was seven
I was living
In a beautiful village
North of Jerusalem
Near the heart of Palestine

I used to play
Where Jesus used to pray
I ran up the hills
Where he used to walk
Listening through the wind
To the echo of his talk
“Oh, children of God,
Love one another”

A man of Palestine
Gentle, kind, and giving
A true prince of peace
Ever so loving…

Up above my head
White fluffy clouds
Slept all day
On my blue sky’s lap

I used to lie down
Jumping with my soul
Up in to heaven
Weaving with the clouds
Snow white and teddy bears

I’d make up stories
Dressed up as a princess
Dancing with the fairies
Flying on the wings
Of a pure white bird

With a magical brush
That no one could see
I painted the world
With colours of the rainbow

I flew wiping tears away
Of every human face
Putting a big smile
Right in their place

I spoke every language
With no words at all
With all words of love
They answered my call

Every drop of water
Every grain of sand
Every green leaf
Felt God’s loving hand

UNTIL
One summer day
My life was turned
Up-side down

Video Captures Heart and Ambitions of Gilad Atzmon & Orient House Ensemble

January 11, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

By Tim King Salem-News.com

'Gilad Atzmon & the OHE Songs Of The Metropolis' is produced by Tali Atzmon.

http://youtu.be/hmWtlaug8TQ

Gilad Atzmon & Orient House Ensemble

(SACRAMENTO / LONDON) - Gilad Atzmon's sax sings beautifully in the new film produced by Tali Atzmon, 'Gilad Atzmon & the OHE Songs Of The Metropolis'.

Beautifully and thoughtfully executed, the program is a wonderful introduction for less familiar listeners and a serious delight for those of us already addicted to the music of this man who has made such a difference in the world not only as a musician, but as an activist, reporter and author. Originally from Israel, Gilad is a fierce supporter of Palestinian human rights and a vocal political opponent of Israeli policy.

He wages his campaign for people the same way he and the group deliver their live performances; in a way that could only be considered spectacular, delightful, and full of personality, character, and life.

Gilad's interview segments are interspersed throughout the vi

deo and he talks about the music, the ideas, the politics and the images.

"I express there, some very strong criticism of multi culturalism and spiritual globalisation," Gilad said. "We are always listening to the same music, drinking the same coffee, reading the same books."

He expresses critical thoughts about the western population spending far too much time and money supporting Starbucks while failing to cons

ider what is happening to indigenous culture. People tend to live within their comfort zones, enjoying their place in the rat race where everything makes sense on a superficial level. The weak, corporate controlled mainstream media is the final ingredient. Unlike the western world of even twenty years ago, there now exists a population programmed to ignore the suffering of other human beings. Thoughtful souls like Gilad Atzmon are trying to explain, musically in this case, how we are all different for myriad reasons and never will be in lock step with one another.

"Rather than delaying an obvious multicultural attempt to flatten everything and to present an i

mage of manifold or most duplicity, the beauty of it comes out when the African flute really doesn't agree with the hip-hop drums, and this is the instant when my understanding of beauty comes into play. This is where I want to start, to start merging those things that don't agree with each other, to let them not agree. With the Orientals, we have been struggling forward for more than a decade, more than a decade, playing all this music. We have managed to convince a lot of people, even ourselves... that we can do it. But when you listen to a real Iraqi Oud player or a beautiful Palestinian singer, you realize that we will never be able to achieve it," Gilad said.

The Jewish Raffle...

January 11, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

Israel Vows To Use Veto Power If Chuck Hagel Confirmed As U.S. Secretary Of Defense

January 11, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

The Onion (a spoof publication) reports that “top-ranking government officials in Jerusalem confirmed Tuesday that Israel would exercise its longstanding, constitutionally granted veto power over American policy if U.S. lawmakers confirmed retired congressman Chuck Hagel as the United States’ next Secretary of Defense.” Israeli government spokesperson Mark Regev is quoted saying “In light of Mr. Hagel’s worrying remarks on Israeli-Palestinian relations and questionable classification of Israeli interests as ‘the Jewish lobby,’ we consider him a highly inappropriate choice for Defense Secretary who stands far out of line with our national priorities, and therefore we are prepared to swiftly and resolutely use our official veto power over this U.S. action.”

A brilliant film made by Tali Atzmon on OHE's New Album - Songs Of The Metropolis

January 10, 2013 by Gilad Atzmon

The music, the ideas, the politics and the images...

http://www.youtube.com/