Roni Eytan’s microtonal harmonica blends world folk music with jazz improvisation into a heady mix…
Roni Eytan – Melody People – PKmusic # PK00331 – 57:36 – CD- ****
( Roni Eytan – harmonica & microtonal harmonica; Shai Maestro – piano; Nitzan Bar – guitar; Barak Mori – bass; Daniel Dor – drums; Mayu Shviro – cello on # 6, 7)
A microtonal harmonica is designed or modified to play notes that fall between the standard half-steps, such as quarter tones or custom intervals. Israeli harmonica player, Roni Eytan, uses a microtonal instrument developed by Brendan Power that enables him to play Middle Eastern as well as other non-Western scales. Roni’s debut for PKmusic, Melody People, brings his roots, backed by a quintet of fellow homeland artists, into twelve tracks that are deeply melodic.
The tracks blend North African influences with a chamber jazz feel. Eytan is a generous leader, who finds space for his producer and pianist, Shai Maestro, as well as drummer, Daniel Dor, for inspiration and blending with his harmonica. The group is all acoustic, and nylon guitarist, Nitzan Bar is featured on a duet with Eytan on “Harmonica Song (For Dave).”
Guest cellist, Mayu Shviro, has a solo on “Before It Begins,” and also the wistful ballad, “Like a River.” “Hopeful” has the shimmering piano lines of Shai Maestro, while “Winter Dance (A Call to Gather)” has a contagious energy that brings you into the milieu of an Arab souk.
“Elegy for Saba” (grandfather), the piano duo with Maestro, was written for Roni’s saba, and is tender and moving. The same mood is felt on “Tears (A Mother’s Lament”). There is a charged increase in passion on “Melody People (Holding Letting Go.”). The closer, “Ne Me Quitte Pas,” written by Jacques Brel, will bring to mind, Belgian harmonica icon, Toots Thielemans, who is perhaps the most famous jazz harmonica player in history.
Kudos must be given to drummer, Daniel Dor, whose power and dynamic range, including hand work, propels many of the tracks.
Roni Eytan has a bright future. Mentored by Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, he was the only harmonica player chosen for Hancock’s Institute of Jazz. Hopefully, he will continue to expand the role of his instrument in new and exciting fashion.
Roni Eytan – Melody People
Tracklist:
Winter Dance (2:19)
Hopeful (3:31)
Melody People (8:31)
Tears ( A Mother’s Lament) (6:34)
A Modern Folktale (7:38)
Before It Begins (1:13)
Like a River (4:43)
Harmonica Song (For Dave) (3:24)
Elegy for Saba (8:30)
Melody People (Holding/Letting Go) (1:26)
Hayalda Hachi Yafa Bagan (3:34)
Ne Me Quitte Pas (6:10)
—Review by Jeff Krow
