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relevant and unendingly fascinating to explore. "Though jazz was first invented many moons ago, it never ceases to rejuvenate and develop according to the sounds of the day", says Fine. "Getting with the times is simply what jazz does. Some jazz festivals have turned into great big nostalgia fests, but our festival is different. I don't work for the jazz police", he jokes. "I choose to focus on young contemporary artists. The young musicians of today play modern jazz. They grew up with hip-hop, and they use it, as well as gospel. Their playing style is infinitely layered and complex. Take Jacob Collier for instance, a musical genius aged barely 28, who combines jazz with pop, hip-hop and more. He's already won five Grammy Awards. He's truly the Jamiroquai or Stevie Wonder of today". Collier is indeed unfathomably talented, with a distinct ‘mad genius bedhead air’ about him. A multi instrumentalist, he can play to perfection almost any instrument you can think of, and to-and-froes between every musical genre contemporary artists. The young musicians of today play modern jazz. They grew up with hip-hop, and they use it, as well as gospel. Their playing style is infinitely layered and complex" Yossi Fine: "Some jazz festivals have turned into great big nostalgia fests, but our festival is different. I choose to focus on young

imaginable, seemingly without any effort whatsoever, making it practically impossible to place him under any specific musical category. His music is optimistic, joyful, and inspiring. In accordance with Yossi Fine's vision, this year's lineup also includes such names as Israeli rapper Ravid Plotnik (ex-Nechi Nech). Plotnik's work is strongly influenced by Ethiopian music, and he'll be performing in Eilat together with legendary saxophonist Abatte Barihun, who effortlessly intertwines jazz with Ethiopian sounds. Rapper Sima Noon is also in this year's lineup. "I want to open the festival to young audiences", says Fine. "Jazz isn't just music for grown-ups. If we don't include younger audiences and new artists, the festival won't survive. The average age of its performers this year is 27 – young people are being given center stage. They come with all the passion and spirit that youth can conjure". The festival will conclude with a special show by the band Fine has created especially for the occasion, and in which he will be performing as well. It will include Israeli hip hop artists and young international jazz talents that will celebrate the interconnection between jazz and groove. They'll be playing songs composed for the occasion by Netta Barzilai, Nunu, Echo and Cohen and more – musical fireworks of groove, hip-hop, and spoken word. This is the sound of the future of jazz. "The audience is in for a treat", Fine sums up. "People might not all recognize the names of the performers, but the festival is built in such a way that there will be something for everyone". ■

Photo: Noam Chojnowski

16 or 17. I spent two years on the jury of the IDF jazz band and I was astounded at the level so many candidates were playing at", he explains. One of the most striking newcomers performing in Eilat this year is 24-year-old harmonica player and composer Ariel Bart, rising star of the Israeli jazz scene. She recently returned home to Israel after finishing her studies with distinction at the prestigious New York jazz school, 'The New School'. The harmonica is by no means a common instrument, and Bart's compositions are truly magical. Getting with the times Jazz has always been a music melting-pot that adopts every genre and influence it can get its hands on – from classical music to blues, Afrobeats, pop, rock, Black music, Latin, Romani, and even avant-garde music and sounds. It’s a genre in continuous renewal and transformation, perennially Modern music and contemporary jazz

The Port of Eilat, November 10 th to 12 th , redseajazz.co.il/en

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ATMOSPHERE NOVEMBER 2022