Anti Zionist Zionist Dror Feiler On The Jewish State And His Right to Return

By Gilad Atzmon

Ynet reported today that “Israeli expat Dror Feiler, who was banned entry to Israel due to his participation several Gaza flotillas, appealed to the Jerusalem District Court to reverse the ban and allow him to visit the country in order to tend to his sick, 90-year-old mother.”

Now, of course I hope that Feiler succeeds in his appeal and manages to reunite with his elderly mother, but the argument that Feiler uses in his appeal exposes the deceptive nature that unfortunately, is intrinsic to the Jewish progressive message in general and to Dror Feiler in particular.

In an interview with the Israeli Ynet, Feiler produced some very peculiar Judeo-centric arguments that demonstrated a complete dismissal of any ethics, let alone any universal approach to the conflict.

http://youtu.be/kbF4uzNOHlA

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Gerald Clark’s Nakba – A Masterpiece for Palestine

http://www.counterpunch.org/

By Gilad Atzmon

The other day I learned that Gerald Clark, pretty much an unfamiliar name to me, was about to launch a Jazz suite dedicated to the Nakba and the Palestinian people. I was intrigued, I contacted Gerald and offered my help. A day later, the album found its way to my letterbox. 

I am usually bored by ‘political music.’  Occasionally it lacks the necessary wit let alone a musical edge. But Clark’s Nakba is a masterpiece - music in its purest and most genuine form. It’s probably best described as a ‘Blue Note for Palestine’.  This new album is a treat, and you should seriously consider adding it to your Jazz collection.

A sampler medley of the album can be heard here: https://soundcloud.com/geraldcmin6/nakba-album-sampler-medley

You can buy the album here.

I asked Clark about his musical background? Are you a professional musician? What instrument do you compose on?

Gerald Clark: I am not a full-time professional musician at this stage.  I write all kinds of music: film scores, pop songs, etc.  I've recorded an album as a singer-songwriter (The Great Divide), and six short film scores, but I have a feature film to score in the new year, which I'm already doing quite a lot of work for.  I've written a symphonic suite and a string quartet, mostly to see if I could do it, and several jazz works.  I'm a piano player predominately, and virtually all my composition starts sitting at the piano.

Gilad Atzmon: What made you compose a suite for Palestine?

Gerald Clark: It was 2002, the second 'Intifada' had started and Jenin was being attacked.  I've always been involved with political campaigns and I'd been on a couple of ‘Freedom for Palestine’ marches.  I'd been playing around with a rhythmical figure on the piano (which is now the riff at the start of Jenin), when I developed another one (now the riff at the start of Intifada).  Then I saw Jocelyn Hurndall give a very moving talk about the death of her son Tom.  It all fell into place around those ideas.  Ultimately I wanted to do something to help.  It took a while to finish it and put it together, but now I have a finished product and I know that every time someone buys the album I'll be personally donating money to a Palestinian charity, so it feels worthwhile. 

Gilad Atzmon: This is beautiful. I was very surprised to find out that you didn’t play on the album. I then realised that you were the composer. An unusual role in jazz. How would you describe the process of making an album with a jazz team?

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GILAD ATZMON & FRIENDS @ THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL/LJF

 

The Orient House Ensemble (Frank Harrison, Eddie Hick & Yaron Stavi, The Sigamos Quartet led by Ros Stephen, Sarah Gillespie, Asaf Sirkis, Jennifer Bennett,   Yair Avidor and the legendary Norman Watt Roy.

To book tickets click here

Watch a latest video

 

On 21st November,  I will be celebrating 20 Years in Britain at the London Jazz Festival/The Queen Elizabeth Concert Hall, London South Bank.

We are planning a musical spectacle.  The concert will offer a journey through my varied musical activity, including some very special collaborations. It is promised to be a unforgettable night. 

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/gilad-atzmon-74480