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| Releasing Friday - Omer Lesham, Playscape (Ubuntu Music) Based in Brooklyn, New York for the past decade, saxophonist and composer Omer Leshem has been featured at New York City's greatest venues. Originally from Herzliya, Israel, Leshem's unique compositional style is influenced by a wide range of genres and concepts, including classical European harmonies, Mediterranean grooves and lyricism, and contemporary free jazz. He has been touring both as a band leader and as a sideman, performing in festivals around the country and internationally. He is the winner of several acclaimed jazz competitions including EUROFEST, Red Sea JazzFest Youth Competition, AICF Competition, and Rostov International Jazz Competition. Leshem graduated with a BFA from New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, directed by Reggie Workman, as the Valedictorian of his class. He holds a PhD in clinical psychology from The New School for Social Research. In his empirical research, Leshem has collaborated with leading musicians such as Dave Douglas, Kris Davis, and Andy Milne to investigate live concert audience-performer interactions.Leshem recorded his first album, Needless To Say, with his quartet upon his arrival to NYC in 2017. The album is composed of six original tunes featuring Omer's distinct compositional style. His second release, With All Due Respect (2023), presents an array of original compositions written during the Covid-19 pandemic. The music was arranged collaboratively by members of Leshem's trio. The harmony-less band gave the musicians greater freedom and room to explore novel directions, timbers, and textures. Omer Leshem's third studio album, Play Space, was recorded by his quintet. Alongside Leshem on tenor saxophone are some of New York's finest and most innovative musicians including pianist Moshe Elmakias, guitarist Nadav Remez, bassist Elam Friedlander, and drummer Ben Silashi. All members of the quintet are Israelis currently residing in New York City. Their performance demonstrates both their expertise in modern jazz playing and their passion towards their shared ethnic roots. Play Space features Leshem's original music. His nine compositions reveal a mixture of warmth and nostalgia together with energetic North African grooves, a touch of free jazz, and Middle Eastern influences. The combination between Leshem's uniquely lyrical and multicultural compositions and the band members' ecstatic playing gives Play Space a highly distinct and fresh sound. After performing and refining their music for several years, Leshem finally decided to take the band to the studio. The album was recorded in June 2023 at the iconic Dreamland Studios, a remote church nestled within the forest just outside of Woodstock, NY. Play Space was recorded by engineer Ariel Shafir and the music was mixed and mastered by the great Dave Darlington. Leshem, a renowned saxophonist and doctor of clinical psychology, has long been interested in the concept of "play". In Play Space, he decided to pay an homage to the British psychoanalyst Donald Winnicot, who devoted his career to studying child play. This form of playing exists simultaneously in both reality and fantasy. The child's imagination liberates "real" objects from the rules and limitations of physics. Leshem found striking resemblance between this sort of playing and music playing. As musicians engage in imaginative composition and improvisation, they find "real" notes to express their unrestricted musical imagination just as a child may find a mighty warship in a simple toy. Leshem's simple and often catchy compositional style is inspired by, and aims to mimic, the freedom and innocence found in child play. Play Space is Omer Leshem's most ambitious musical project to date. After a long wait to assemble the perfect ensemble to bring his original compositions to life, the band's exceptional performance showcases remarkable craftsmanship and a profound understanding of his complex music. Leshem shares his excitement, stating he is "delighted to share Play Space with the world through a partnership with Ubuntu Music." The standout track, "Twilight Hymn, " is inspired by Middle Eastern music and features a catchy theme that will linger in your mind for days. This "hymn" unites the audience, compelling them to sing and clap together—it's simply irresistible! Aww, your head hurts? "Take an Advil!" was a frequent refrain from Omer's mother, inspiring this dizzying, fast-tempo hit best enjoyed with a glass of water. "David's Devastating Journey" is a sentimental piece that narrates the story of David, a young, promising individual who achieved great success only to realize he no longer recognized himself. Torn in all directions, David faced an impossible conundrum with no satisfactory resolution. "Cape Town Swag" was composed after visiting his father's hometown, this groovy tune invites listeners to close their eyes and imagine themselves on a sunny beach in Cape Town, sipping fresh tropical juice. "The Heroic Era of No Consequences, " a delicate yet powerful piece simultaneously expresses mythical courage and human fragility—two seemingly irreconcilable ends. "Pull the Donkey" is dedicated to Omer's older sister, Dana, this track recalls a family trip when a persuasive Dana convinced six-year-old Omer to pull the donkey she comfortably rode, with the promise of switching roles—a promise that never materialized. "Mulberry Garden" is named after his neighbor's mulberry tree, this piece reflects Omer's mixed feelings. While the tree provided much-needed shade during hot summers, it also shed thousands of mulberries that, if not promptly collected, fermented and emitted a horrendous smell. "Go You Maniac" is inspired by McCoy Tyner's intense modal style, this rageful protest song expresses the pain and fear of those concerned about the state of their democracies. "Back Home, " the closing track, aims to evoke the nostalgic, warm feeling of being at home. However, this peace is fleeting, as the serene, melodic ballad gradually transforms into far more dramatic territories. Gig Events - New York: Umbra - Friday August 30th Dada Bar - Thursday September 26th Jaffa Cocktail Bar - Saturday September 28th Ornithology Jazz Club - Sunday September 29th Cafe Erzulie - TBA Players: instrument Omer Leshem: tenor saxophone Moshe Elmakias: piano Nadav Remez: guitar Elam Friedlander: bass Ben Silashi: drums Track Information: 1. Twilight Hymn 5:51 2. Take an Advil 3:36 3. David's Devastating Journey 10:44 4. Cape Town Swag 4:23 5. The Heroic Era of No Consequences 5:28 6. Pull the Donkey 5:38 7. Mulberry Garden 6:30 8. Go You Maniac 5:17 9. Back Home 7:35 *All Songs written by Omer Lesham Artist: Omer Lesham Album Name: Play Space Street Date: September 27, 2024 Add Date: September 23, 2024 Label: Ubuntu Music Artist Website: omerleshem.net write your comments about the article :: © 2024 Jazz News :: home page |