Pianist-composer and UCLA faculty member Tamir Hendelman leads the Spirit of Israel Ensemble, a quartet/quintet of top Israeli jazz artists/composers from NY and LA who will perform an evening of rhythmical and lyrical jazz interpretations of Israeli music their own original compositions. Inspired by their homeland, the quartet will meld  jazz, world and classical influences into an exciting program of contemporary jazz improvisations.This would include musical workshops, a concert and talk, and interactions with both music and humanities classes, including Professor Uri Dorchin (International Studies; Middle Eastern Studies), who’s expressed interest in a visit to his spring class (M142), during which the ensemble can discuss the influence of Israeli culture on our musical upbringing, and the relationship between communal improvisation in our jazz performance practice and growing up in the melting point that is Israeli society. 

The quartet’s members includes pianist Tamir Hendelman (Jeff Hamilton Trio, Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Natalie Cole, 

guitarist Yotam Silberstein (James Moody, Monty Alexander, John Patitucci)