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The winter edition of the Red Sea Jazz Festival will return to Eilat from February 20-22, showcasing a star-studded lineup under the guidance of artistic director Niva Amali-Maoz.
Celebrating its 14th year, the festival will feature a blend of renowned Israeli musicians and international jazz artists, although the regional security situation has kept some overseas stars from making the trip.
Notable among the performers is Omer Avital, an acclaimed bassist originally from Israel, now based in New York.
Avital, a stalwart of the city’s avant-garde jazz scene, will open the festival with the premiere of his new composition Song of a Land, an “Eastern Afro-Jewish suite” that will be performed by a 12-piece ensemble.
His appearance marks a highly anticipated return to Eilat, where he will bring his unique fusion of Middle Eastern and African musical traditions to the stage.
Another significant highlight will be trumpet virtuoso Avishai Cohen, a fixture on the global jazz scene. Cohen will perform his latest album, Ashes to Gold, with a jazz quartet augmented by a string quartet from the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Cohen’s performance promises to offer a fresh perspective on his innovative approach to jazz, blending traditional and contemporary elements in an engaging and captivating manner.
In a tribute to one of jazz’s greats, the festival will honor Bill Evans, one of the genre’s titans, with a special concert by Israeli pianists Roee Ben Sira, Katya Tubol, and Tomer Bar.
The performance will celebrate Evans’ legacy and will be followed by a screening of Bill Evans Time Remembered, a 2015 documentary about the iconic pianist.
This event will also serve as a tribute to Dubi Lentz, the late founder and artistic director of the festival, who passed away in 2023.
The festival’s diverse lineup extends beyond traditional jazz. Israeli pop singer Miri Mesika will join the Israeli Jazz Orchestra for a performance of jazz and soul numbers, offering new arrangements of classic tunes.
Additionally, singer-songwriter Ehud Banai will contribute his unique bluesy flair, while Ethiopian-born saxophonist Abate Berihun will add his rich, soulful sound to the mix. The festival will also feature a number of notable international and Israeli jazz musicians.
French-based pianist Yonatan Avishai will present a new creative venture with a sextet, while 92-year-old Juanita Cohen Smith, a legendary pianist-vocalist who has worked with Louis Armstrong, will take the stage for what promises to be one of the most captivating performances of the event.
Other highlights include Itamar Borochov’s Contrafact project and Tal Avraham’s original compositions, as well as master classes by veteran Israeli bassist Eli Magen.
In addition to the musical performances, the festival will offer a range of activities, including a special appearance by the New Swing Orchestra, led by clarinetist-saxophonist Kobi Salomon.
The youthful ensemble is set to deliver an energetic performance that will undoubtedly keep the crowd energized throughout the festival.
The festival will also showcase a variety of vocal talents, including Noa Fort, a New York-based vocalist-pianist, and drummer Noam David, who will lead his quartet.
Nitai Hershkovits, an Israeli pianist known for his work with the prestigious ECM record label, will present a series of original scores in a special performance.
With performances spanning a range of genres from jazz to soul, blues, and African grooves, the Red Sea Jazz Festival is poised to be a cultural highlight of the year.
Admission to one of the festival’s most exciting shows, a high-energy African groove performance by singer Tama Rada, will be free, offering an inclusive experience for music lovers of all kinds.