a r t i s t : the platina
t i t l e : the girl with the flaxen hair
d a t e : 2003
l a b e l : Mio
g e n r e : Jazz
r l s. d a t e : Jan/2008
t r a c k s : 08
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 104,7 MB
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Back in the 1970s, jazz was a rare commodity in Israel. I
first discovered it's existence in a tiny club run by an
American expat named Charlie, just behind Yafo Rd in the
center of Jerusalem. There I heard this incredible band,
Platina. I wasn't generally a jazz fan, but this band was
special. Formed originally by Arik Einstein around the core of
Kunsman and drummer Kaminsky, the band included several of
Israeli's best musicians over its five year existence. They
released a first, rather stiff album, the inappropriately
named "Live at the Barbarim," a better, ECM-influenced album,
"Freedom," backed BB King in Israel, got invited to the
Newport Jazz Festival, and then came out with their most
amazing batch of music ever, centered around a jazz version of
Debussey's "Girl with the Flaxen Hair." I had a recording of
the band playing the music live on the radio, taken via
horrible mike into a cassette player, and that got stolen. But
I never forgot the musicùwhich was just as well, because
something happened to the studio tapes and in the meantime,
feeling that they had taken the music as far as it was going
to go, the band broke up. In an interview with band-leader
Roman Kunsman at the time, he complained about trying to make
a band playing international music work in such a small
country surrounded by enemies. Kunsman, himself, spent a lot
of time in the US and Europe. Among other recordings, he is
memorialized in some marvellous recordings with Moshe Berlin's
amazing band, "Sulam". Kunsman passed away in 2002, and as a
memorial, the band gathered what tapes they could find,
substituting live recordings for the lost studio recordings,
and this CD was released by the now comatose MIO label in
2003. This is wonderful jazz. The band including Kunsman's
flute, the amazing drumming of Arele Kaminsky (who continued
to lead the most amazing Wednesday night jam sessions in
Jerusalem for years), one of Israel's most accomplished rock
guitarists (Tamuz, et al) Haim Karyo, as well as scat vocals
by pop star Riki Manor and bass by Lev Zabeginsky. Original
keyboard player Alona Turel had, by now, been replaced by
Yakov Erlich and Bernie Senensky. If Debussey played jazz,
this is what it would sound like. The long title track remains
one of my favorite pieces, and this my favorite version. On
the closing number the band takes on a harder jazz-rock sound,
around Karyo's guitar, which I love, as well. On the piece,
"Africa", Kunsman shows his Coltrane influence, but also a
Middle Eastern sound that predates modern bands such as Bustan
Abraham. I miss Kunsman, although not nearly as much, by all
accounts, as he is missed by those who played with him and
knew him well. This CD, along with Sulam, provide some
explanation of why his music was so influential and so
beloved. Many thanks to MIO for digging these tapes up and
making them available. Spread the word and get copies for all
of your friends.
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01-Picture [04:45]
02-The Girl With The Flaxen Hair [12:12]
03-The Snow Is Dancing [04:50]
04-Africa [14:03]
05-Doxy [08:00]
06-I Can't Get Started [08:39]
07-Capricorn Dance [11:20]
08-Hope [13:12]
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77:01 min