Video of the Day: pianist Roy Mor premieres ‘Jerusalem Mezcla’

After The Real Thing, is pianist and composer Roy Mor’s debut album as a bandleader and features original music as well as new arrangements of Israeli classics and fresh interpretations of two of his favourite jazz standards such as ‘Speak Low’ by Kurt Weill and a live recording of Hoagy Carmichael’s ‘The Nearness of You’.

Three of the eleven compositions will be released ahead of the album – ‘Jerusalem Mezcla’ which means “Jerusalem Mixture” and was inspired by Jerusalem’s Mahne Yehuda market; the swinging, bop-influenced title track; and ‘Echo Song’, a folk song made famous by the Israeli singer Arik Lavi featuring the renowned oud player Amos Hoffman who appears on the album alongside bassist Myles Sloniker and drummer Itay Morchi.

Recorded in Brooklyn, After The Real Thing is a selection of Mor’s music that was written in Jerusalem, New York and Tel Aviv. “In some ways, the music on this album describes my physical and musical journey from Israel to New York and back,” says the pianist. “These songs were inspired by various places, people and encounters I had in each of these cities and draw from the many musical influences I found there, from Middle Eastern music to hard bop, and more.”

“Looking back, I guess ‘going after the real thing’ for me was perhaps leaving a secure position with Microsoft in Israel and moving to New York to pursue my dream of being a musician in New York City, the mecca of jazz.” Mor concludes, “It was something I had to pursue. And the journey continues.”

For more info visit www.ubuntumanagementgroup.com and whatch the video below