Jazz was rare in Israel in the 1970s. It was in a small club that Charlie, an American expat, ran in Jerusalem’s center. Platina was playing there. Although I’m not a big jazz fan, this band was exceptional. The band was founded by Arik Einstein, with drummer Kaminsky and Kunsman as the core. It has featured many of Israel’s finest musicians throughout its five-year existence. Their first album was a rather boring affair, the inexplicably named “Live at the Barbarim.” They then released “Freedom,” a more ECM-influenced album. The Newport Jazz Festival invited them to perform their best music, which revolved around a jazz version Debussey’s “Girl with the Flaxen Hair.” … Personnel Roman Kunsman: flute, alto saxophone, alto flute Aaron (Aralle) Kaminsky: percussion, drums Lev Zabeginsky: double bass, bass guitar Yakov Erlich: keyboards (tracks 1, 2, 3, 8) Haim Kario: electric guitar (tracks 1, 2, 3, 8) Riki Manor: vocals (tracks 1, 2, 3) Bernie Senensky: piano (tracks 4, 6, 7) from http://www.klezmershack.com
