[Dixielandjazz] Evan Christopher in Tel-Aviv, Isradixie

[Marek Boym]

Hi,
Last Thursday and Friday we went to hear Evan Christopher at the
Tel-Aviv Museum.
We were not too happy with the supporting Israeli band - proficient
musicians but, other than the drummer, not conversant with OKOM.  I
don't know how how the band was put together, but it did not
improvise, and was a bit stiff.  Evans himself sounded great, but one
person is not enough to carry a band through.

Those of us who attended both performances found the Friday one
infinitely better; the bass player sounded mouch looser, and some of
the rough edges were rounded up.

In previous years, when we had OKOM'ers at the Museum, they were
supported by more sympathetic groups.  But this year it seems that
management has changed, and the person who held the pre-concert talk
did not really understand why Mr. Christopher objected to the
application of the term "Dixieland" to his music.

On Saturday night, two of us went to hear Isradixie.  Now, on a
person-to-person level Evan Christopher could match most of its
members, but what a difference!  The band had a sense of purpose, and
a "togetherness" that could only develop over a long period of playing
together.  A lot of clowning, too, but not at the expense of music.
The band's singer, Paul Moore, who also plays washboard, ukelele,
ukelele-banjo (not this time) and assorted pots, pans, tea spoons and
a kazoo, is a fantastic entertainer and pssesses that crazy British
sense of humour.  Yesterday he outdid himself.  He always changes
words of songs, so that it is never boring to hear him again and
again.  The leader Avram Felder "Agashkin" writes good arrangements,
and is an excellent improviser.  For example, he never plays the
famous intro to "West End Blues" the same way; last time it was closer
to its usual reading than I've ever heard him doing it.
The others are wonderful musicians.  You should see the verve of
Jacques Sany, the octogenarian soprano sax player, and hear his
impassioned playing.  Another octogenarian, Merton Cahm (originally a
Mancunian) excelled on clarinet and tenor sax (doesn't he always!).
And it is difficult to believe that the SWINGING banjo player was a
star of a rock group!
In general, a much more satisfying performance, and a great, albeit a
wee bit late, start of the new year.
Cheers