This is the second year of the Jazz Festival in Lehavim, which is entirely a tribute to Israeli jazz. Five years have passed since the establishment of the Lehavim Jazz Club, which has brought to date a rich repertoire of performances by the best jazz artists from Israel and around the world, and also held the first Southern Jazz Festival in Lehavim last year with the support of the Lehavim Council and the Community Center, which was a great success. The second Jazz Festival in Lehavim will concentrate in one weekend an impressive variety of fascinating live performances, in which it will bring the audience together with leading jazz ensembles in Israel, who will play familiar pieces in new and surprising arrangements, as well as original music that comes from the heart and penetrates the heart.
The second Jazz Festival in Lehavim will feature top–tier artists from the Israeli jazz scene including:
Omri Mor Trio – an international virtuoso pianist, who moves freely between worlds – modern jazz, Brazilian, Andalusian, and Arabic music – and composes an exciting and deep musical story from them.
A fascinating masterclass with saxophonist and creator Tal Varon – a glimpse into the world of a jazz musician and answers to many curious questions we never dared to ask. Tal Varon connects his worlds: Jazz and mindfulness into a magnificent creation.
Queenta Ensemble led by singer Chen Levy – presents a fascinating performance with the best songs of the queen of Hebrew song – Shoshana Damari and the rock goddess Corinne Allal, in original jazz arrangements that captivate the ear and the heart.
The All–Stars Quartet led by Shay Zelman, with a young and promising guest: Asaf Goren on the trumpet – an exciting connection formed especially for the festival, together with saxophonist Tal Varon who thrills the heart.
Matan Klein Sextet and Friends – "The Wind, the Darkness, the Water and the Jazz" – six top–tier jazz musicians in the Israeli jazz scene, in an exciting tribute of surprising jazz arrangements to the works of the giants of Hebrew song: Chaim Hefer, Naomi Shemer, and Sasha Argov.
Guy Mintus Trio – the virtuoso pianist – with original materials and special arrangements for songs by the Beatles, classics by Sasha Argov and Gershwin, and other realms full of surprises – which all receive a fresh interpretation.
Between the performances, the audience is invited to listen to young ensembles in performances with free admission: An ensemble from the Yeruham Conservatory, an ensemble from the Thelma Yellin School in an exciting connection with a jazz musician from Netivot, a jazz ensemble from Mateh Yehuda, and an ensemble from "Striker" – the Israeli Conservatory of Music in Tel Aviv. Alongside the music, the audience will be able to enjoy boutique beers, good wine, indulgent cocktails, and food stalls.
The production of the festival and its artistic management are led by Orly Stern, who initiated and established the "Lehavim Jazz Club" 5 years ago, during COVID–19, in cooperation with the Lehavim Council and the Community Center, with the aim of bringing the wonderful world of jazz to the south of the country. During the years of the club's activity, the southern jazz community has grown and now numbers close to 900 members who are jazz enthusiasts from across the Negev.
Orly Stern: "I am very excited for the festive gathering at our second Israeli Jazz Festival. The festival has two main overarching goals: The first, to give a stage and a lot of love to the community of Israeli jazz artists, and the second, to continue creating intimate, warm, and fascinating encounters between the southern jazz community and the leading artists in the Israeli jazz scene, with an aspiration to also reach the young audience. The Lehavim Jazz Club and the southern jazz community – they are the warm home of jazz in the south. This initiative would not have become a reality without the exciting and ongoing support of the Lehavim Council and the Community Center, and for that I offer my gratitude and great appreciation."
Mayor of Lehavim, Elad Arazi: "We are excited to hold the Israeli Jazz Festival here in Lehavim for the second time. After last year's success, we look forward to seeing guests from all over the country here in Lehavim, who will come to enjoy quality jazz music by the best Israeli jazz artists. Since its establishment, the Lehavim Jazz Club has operated with the support of the Lehavim Council and the Community Center, and it is a unique hub in the south for the meeting of jazz musicians with a warm audience of listeners, for performances in a community and intimate atmosphere. We will continue to promote this wonderful project together under the leadership of Orly Stern."
For tickets