Gilad Atzmon has had some fun with this project as he brings jazz “home” to Eastern Europe
Fans of Atzmon will not be surprised by this mix of jazz, humour and politics in a modern Zappaesque romp. It’s a difficult business taking on an alternative persona, especially when wigs and comedy glasses are involved. So does this well respected jazzman pull it off as Artie Fishel (get it?)
More fun was had naming the other band members as McGoy Tyner (aka John Turville), Selim Dion (aka Kobi Isrealite), Jacko Pastrami (aka Yaron Stavi) and Peter Foreskine (aka Asaf Sirkis).
If you’re idea of fun is a bebop version of the Bob Kerr Whoopee Band in a Kibbutz this is an album for you. Probably best exemplified by the Theme From Dvorak’s New World Symphony (aka the Hovis advert) and ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’, which is pure Zappa garage band in a French café in the Balkans.
It’s not until ‘Radical Goose’ when we discover the band in an avant-garde psych mood that I find I’m warming to this album and it’s saved by a version of ‘A Night In Tunisia’ (even though it’s probably the most unorthodox version that you’ll hear). Big Bobby Johnson’s Kenny Everett style skit on Palestine FM isn’t as bad at it sounds as the Jihad Axman and the Palestinian Funkatirs get into their groove. The set ends with a version of ‘My Favourite Things’ which probably won’t make an appearance at Favourtie Things but you never know (Note: Favourite Things was the top Monday night gig in One Week To Live last week!)
Clearly not one of your conventional jazzmen as Gilad was last seen on Fly with the launch of his second novel My One And Only Love and next off he’s on tour with the current incarnation of Ian Dury’s former backing band, The Blockheads. In between times, he’ll be back on the jazz club scene and he’s been added to this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival line up.
I last saw him at the Swanage Jazz Festival some years ago and he was excellent so I was a little taken aback by Artie Fishel. There are some digs at George W. Bush (as you’d expect from an album on WMD Records) but I’m afraid you get the feeling that many fans would be prone to say, to paraphrase the Zappa instrumental album series, “Shut Up ‘N Play Yer Sax.”
Reviewed — Gilad Atzmon presents Artie Fishel & the Promised Band (WMD Records) Cat. No. WMDC001968
Tracklisting
1. Watermelon Man (What A Mellow Guy)
2. Themes From West Side Story (West Bank Story)
3. Theme From Dvorak’s New World Symphony (Coming Zu Hause)
4. Garage Band
5. Bye Bye Blackbird (Hoy Hoy Hoy Blackbird)
6. Radical Goose
7. J FM
8. Way You Look Tonight (Hoy Vey, The Way You Look Tonight)
9. You And The Night And The Music (You And The Knife And the Moishir)
10. Night In Tunisia (A Knight Into Nietzche)
11. Jungle Jazz
12. Ladies And Gentleman
13. My Favourite Things
Links:
www.gilad.co.uk
Cheltenham Jazz Festival www.cheltenhamfestivals.com “Bobby Wellins, Neil Cowley, Sije Nergaard, Gilad Atzmon ..have been added to this festival that runs from 3-7 May.. while Gilles Peterson will be hosting a night at the University”.
Artie Fishel & the Promised Band Sat 20th January @ www.vortexjazz.co.uk
Yanagisawa Saxophones — Ingrid Laubrock S-992 Soprano Gilad Atzmon S-981 Soprano
Cultures of Resitance Courtney Pine, Rodney P, Gilad Atzmon, Sam Beste, 8.12.06 at The Union Chapel www.swappeal.org.uk
Gilad Atzmon “An astonishing musician with a seemingly effortless ability to demolish and rebuild any old tune he chooses to play” — Time Out
www.theblockheads.com “2007 marks 30 years of Blockhead music”
Upcoming Shows
- Feb 15 2007 Marina Theatre Lowestoft
- Feb 16 2007 Millfield Theatre Edmonton, London
- Feb 17 2007 Pavillion Theatre Rhyl, North Wales
- Feb 18 2007 Prince Of Wales Theatre Cannock, Staffordshire
- Feb 24 2007 Mr Kyps Poole, Dorset
- Mar 10 2007 Exeter Vibraphonic Festival at the Phoenix Exeter
- Apr 28 2007 Excel Centre -London Guitar Show London, London
