Omri Mor “Original Folk Songs” Special guest: Joca Perpignan

Magen: Jazz Folk from Morocco to Brazil

Mark Kakoun – guitar | Omri Mor – piano | Elisef Bashari – oud, electric bass | Joca Perpignan – percussion and vocals | Roni Iverin – percussion | Aviv Boneh – drums

Pianist and composer Omri Mor has established himself on the local and international jazz scene as the musician who brought the Andalusian piano to center stage. Inspired by the great pianists of North Africa, Mor has developed a unique musical language that combines rooted Moroccan music with modern improvisation. In his new show, Mor chooses to expand the spectrum and explore new and intriguing musical landscapes and worlds from across the globe.

The central concept of the new show revolves around “Original Folk Songs.” These are new compositions written by Mor that engage in a personal and candid way with what he perceives as folk music from different parts of the world—from captivating Brazilian rhythms, through deeply rooted African polyrhythms, to simple and touching folk melodies. It is a new and fresh prism of “jazz folk,” written and performed through the perspective of an adventurous jazz musician.

The new compositions explore, among other things, the deep roots connecting the Brazilian samba rhythm with Morocco’s Gnawa rhythms, through the historic transit station for enslaved people in Bahia, Africa. Together with a brilliant ensemble of musicians and an extraordinary percussion section featuring Joca Perpignan and Roni Iverin, the sextet creates a rich rhythmic dialogue in which simple folk melodies meet complex Western jazz harmonies.

Performance duration: 70 minutes