Arba by Itamar Borochov
Formidably talented award-winning trumpeter Itamar Borochov takes inspiration from the stirring melody-driven Middle Eastern sounds which have surrounded him since his childhood by the Mediterranean, tracing his journey to the energy-infused streets of New York. The nine original compositions on Borochov’s fourth album celebrate an emergence from a time of hopelessness and loss to a recognition of faith in the radiant life-force.
Trumpeter Itamar Borochov is creating a new musical hybrid - bringing the sacred sounds of his upbringing to a jazz quartet setting. Borochov first heard Sephardic music in his local synagogue and absorbed these ‘maqams’ (modes) of the greater Middle East and North Africa alongside a range of other musical influences, including the Mizrahi and Ashkenazi musical flavors that are his birthright.
Borochov began playing trumpet at the age of eleven and immersed himself in the discovery of jazz, inspired by the jazz trumpet lineage of Louis Armstrong, Clark Terry, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Lee Morgan, and Booker Little through to Wynton Marsalis, and citing the influence of Ben Webster for his assured yet wistful warm airy tone. In 2007 Borochov relocated to New York to study at the New School and attend Barry Harris’s weekly workshops.
His deep knowledge of these various musical disciplines is expressed organically in his original jazz writing, building a bridge between the near-East and the modal styles of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and others.
Borochov performs on a custom-made Monette 4-valve quarter-tone trumpet which he uses to incorporate Maqams, the Middle Eastern microtonal modes that are the musical language of his traditional upbringing, into his playing.
In addition to recording three albums as a leader, Borochov also appears on three albums with Yemen Blues, of which he was a founding member, arranger and co-producer. He has toured across four continents and performed at prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, SummerStage at Central Park, Blue Note NY, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Bimhuis, Flagey and international festivals including Roskilde, Vitoria, Lviv, Montreal & Ottawa Jazz Festivals, London Jazz Festival, Moscow Jazz Festival, Tel Aviv & Red Sea Jazz Festivals, Jazz à Liège & Shanghai World Music Festival. The Itamar Borochov Quartet was chosen to showcase at WOMEX 2019 in Tampere, Finland.
Borochov won the prestigious 2020 LetterOne 'Rising Stars' Jazz Award European edition, which was presented to him in February 2021 by vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater.
Tracklist
| 1. | Abraham | 7:11 |
| 2. | Dirge | 7:07 |
| 3. | Ya Sahbi | 6:29 |
| 4. | What Broke You? | 4:45 |
| 5. | Wabisabi | 4:21 |
| 6. | Bayat Blues | 5:02 |
| 7. | Truth | 4:55 |
| 8. | Who Shall Grant Me Flight | 2:15 |
| 9. | Farewell | 6:16 |
Credits
All compositions by Itamar Borochov, © 2023 BoroMusic / ASCAP
Itamar Borochov, trumpet, voice, effects
Rob Clearfield, piano, Rhodes, B3 organ
Rick Rosato, double bass
Jay Sawyer, drums, percussion
Avri Borochov, oud (track 3)
Executive Producer: Dave Douglas
Producer: Matt Pierson
Recorded at Big Orange Sheep, Brooklyn, NY on April 13 & 14, 2022
Recording engineer: Michael Perez-Cisneros
2nd recording engineer: Kevin Thomas
Mixed and mastered by Chris Allen
Photography by Dave Stapleton
Design by Itamar Borochov
PRESS:
“Stunning sounds here from Itamar Borochov.” – ★★★★ Stephen Graham, Marlbank
“…a cogent blend of jazz harmonies and Arabic musical traditions all shaded in his own deep tone of blue.” – ★★★★½ Matt Collar, All Music Guide
“Borochov weaves into his lyrical and often melancholic melodies a seductive yet fragile sensuality… and knows how to sketch emotional, story-like textures.” – Eyal Hareuveni, Salt Peanuts
“As we know by now, Dave Douglas makes only quality choices for his label roster. Borochov and his quartet stand tall among them. – Jim Hynes, Making a Scene
“Borochov demonstrates his natural versatility as a new gen. jazzman.” – Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise
“Borochov is a spectacular trumpeter with a voice that’s distinctly his own.” – Adam Sieff, LondonJazz News
“An exciting voice worth following both now and in the years to come.” – Tor Hammerø, Nettavisen
License
All rights reserved.
One of the most prominent and unique trumpeters of his generation, Itamar Borochov brings his deep and ever-expanding love for the jazz tradition to the sacred sounds of his upbringing. Raised in the cosmopolitan port city of Jaffa, now resident in New York, Borochov is creating a new musical hybrid from the broad palette of influences of his rich global landscape.