From all appearances The Tel Aviv Sessions started out as a lark in 2008 when Israeli pianist, Idan Raichel, ran into Malian guitarist, Vieux Farka Touré, in a German Airport. Raichel was so effusive in his praise of the Malian guitarist he asked Touré if he could play with him sometime.
It wasn’t an idle request. Touré took him up on his offer and Raichel set aside time from his busy schedule to join Touré and his band for a concert in Cartagena, Spain. Two years later Touré returned the favor by joining Raichel’s own band for a concert at the Tel Aviv Opera House.
The concert went so well, Raichel suggested a jam session the next day. Raichel brought along his bassist Yossi Fine and Touré brought along Souleymane Kane, his calabash player. From there they played. Three hours, no game plan, this album is the end result.
There is definitely an organic feel to The Tel Aviv Sessions as each song flows right into the other. It helps that an African theme established in the first song “Azawade” keeps reappearing in later tracks. There is also a laid-back ease between the musicians. Just look at the below photo:
A jam session is one thing, but how did they end up making an album? First, Raichel played the role as a gracious host. Not only did he create a welcoming atmosphere, he also let Touré have the first word and set the tone. Second, both musicians left any musical entanglements at the door. As their press release explains:
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04/13/12 New York, NY - City Winery
Read More04/14/12 New York, NY - City Winery 04/15/12 Somerville, MA – Somerville Theatre 04/16/12 Minneapolis, MN – Dakota Jazz Club 04/17/12 Platteville, WI – Platteville Center for the Arts 04/19/12 Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk Music 04/21/12 Atlanta, GA – Rialto Center For The Arts 04/22/12 Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex 04/23/12 Santa Cruz, CA – Kuumbwa Jazz Center 04/26/12 San Francisco, CA – Herbst Theatre 04/28/12 Seattle, WA – Triple Door 04/29/12 Vancouver, BC – Norman Rothstein Theatre The Touré-Raichel Collective are two superstars, Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré and Israeli Idan Raichel. Their album, The Tel Aviv Session, comes out March 27th on Cumbancha Records.
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Vieux and Idan rarely find themselves playing in such an unadorned, acoustic manner. Vieux’s regular sound is more electric with a hard driving rock groove. Idan’s virtuosity as a pianist is often shrouded in the lush, flashy arrangements of the Idan Raichel Project. The session gave each of them a chance to reveal the depth of their skill and talent.
Finally, the two artists clicked. It can happen. Even if one is an Israeli Jew and the other is an African Muslim, their musical languages provide a common ground or as Raichel explains, “Vieux and I share the same DNA. We are both deeply linked to the places where we come from, our family and spiritual roots. These are the things that really matter.”
Three hours laid the ground work for an album that will be released on March 27th with a stateside tour to begin in the middle of April. Not a bad outcome for a chance encounter at the airport. Who knew flying could provide such favorable results? I usually get pulled over pulled over by security.
