Close to Home
"Close to Home" Album recording
at Pluto Studios, Tel-Aviv.
Recording Musicians:
Ari Erev - Piano
Assaf Hakimi - Double Bass
Gasper Bertoncelj - Drums
Hadar Noiberg - Flute
Yuval Cohen - Soprano Saxophone
Gilad Dobrecky - Percussion
"Close to Home" (2021)
"True twenty first century modern jazz sensibilities...
remarkable tonality and improvisational skills... Superbly presented...
Greatly enhances the profile of Israeli jazz on the world scene."
"...Beautifully melodic, with strong rhythmic presence...Erev is a wonderful songweaver... His magic touch on the keyboard is pure delight... with glimpses of Bill Evans lurking from above.
Another solid addition to Erev's recorded legacy, and a fine portrait of the diversity of Israeli Jazz... Highly recommended,"
"Ever the melodicist and bestower of hope and light... beauty which clearly amplifies its overarching title...
There's a warmth and a focus that... reflects the album theme.
'Falling in Place' is certainly an irresistible, tightly executed, good-time gem!"
"a pianist with a very rich imagination and an unlimited spectrum of perceiving the smallest subtleties and weaving them into refined sound structures.
...music (that is) elevated to the highest degree of color...
...a coherent, beautiful story, full of lyrical elation, lightness and natural openness...
A real dream team !"
(Translated)
"...Great music that is melodic, complex, surprising and very pleasing to the ear."
(Translated)
"Unusually lyrical pianist, a sort of Israeli Bill Evans,,..."
"A world-class musician... enthralling to hear... "
Read Additional Critics...
Radio Interviews/Programs
Neon Jazz (English, 2021)
Interview by Joe Dimino (for Close to Home release 2021)
106.2 FM, "Israeli Jazz" (Hebrew, 2021)
Interview by Yotam Ziv (for Close to Home release 2021)
IDF Radio (GLZ), "Voice of Jazz" program (Hebrew, 2021)
Interview by Dubi Lenz (for Close to Home release 2021)
On his fourth album, Close to Home, Israeli pianist Ari Erev assembles a stellar cast of musicians to explore the many spaces and places that a 21st Century musician calls home.
The group may be a piano trio at its core, but Erev takes full advantage of the additional colours at his disposal, with the addition of New York-based flutist Hadar Noiberg, acclaimed percussionist Gilad Dobrecky & hotly tipped saxophonist Yuval Cohen.
Together, they dance through 13 songs on a record which is rooted in jazz but showcases Erev's long-time passion for world music and, in particular, Latin influences.
Whilst the range may be broad, the tracks are tied together in their strongly melodic treatment and rich harmony.
Flutist Hadar Noiberg's expressive tone and style hints at classical & Brazilian influences, whilst acclaimed percussionist Gilad Dobrecky infuses tracks with Latin style. Hotly-tipped saxophonist Yuval Cohen on soprano adds a sensitive touch to proceedings and long-time associates Assaf Hakimi (bass) and Gasper Bertoncelj (drums) join Erev in the rhythm section.
Perhaps best summed up by the dedication of "Afar" to his daughter Tal, Ari explains: "Close To Home tells my story of family members, close friends and familiar places, to whom I relate and feel deep emotions towards."
In addition to eigth original compositions, Erev adds fascinating reinterpretations and arrangements of songs by Paul Simon (Still Crazy After All These Years), Keith Jarrett (So Tender), Antonio Carlos Jobim (Olha Maria), Brazilian pianist/composer Debora Gurgel (Para Sempre), and Israeli artist Efraim Shamir (Shi'ur Moledet).
'Close to Home' tells my story of family members, close friends and familiar places, to whom I relate and feel deep emotions towards.
I believe that all of us have such close and intimate relationships with people and places that are, physically or mentally, close to our home; Our loved ones, the street we live in, the local shop, the near-by playground, our hometown and homeland.
This album is about these people and places.
I hope you will take my music 'Close to (your) Home'.
Ari Erev, April 2021
"Close to Home" Album recording
at Pluto Studios, Tel-Aviv.
Recording Musicians:
Ari Erev - Piano
Assaf Hakimi - Double Bass
Gasper Bertoncelj - Drums
Hadar Noiberg - Flute
Yuval Cohen - Soprano Saxophone
Gilad Dobrecky - Percussion