The Uriel Herman Quartet dazzle at Ronnie Scott’s

Following the recent release of his highly acclaimed album Different Eyes, Israeli pianist Uriel Herman has been one of the most talked about jazz musicians on the international jazz scene. Performing live at Ronnie Scott’s in London, Herman was joined by long-time associates Uriel Weinberger on flutes and tenor saxophone, Avri Borochov on double bass, and Haim Peskoff on drums. Afro-Cuban trumpeter Yelfris Valdés also featured as a guest, and his soulful, charismatic style added a sense of creative spontaneity to this seasoned quartet.

Herman’s musical style escapes rigid genre definitions. Classically trained and deeply influenced by Classical repertoire, Herman’s compositions feature expertly crafted melodies that he performs with Chopin-esque intensity. But he is also not afraid to venture into the freer realms of jazz, at times exhibiting the heavy rhythmic left hand of Cecil Taylor alongside the harmonically adventurous right hand of McCoy Tyner. Middle Eastern influences are abundant, perhaps most obviously in Weinberger’s use of semitonal ornamentation on wooden and metal flutes. These diverse sources of inspiration combined to create a powerfully unique sound.

The band performed eight tracks from Different Eyes, with Herman’s haunting original compositions being particular highlights. In the complex contrapuntal melodic lines of ‘Jerusalem’, Herman reflected upon memories of childhood and identity in Israel’s capital. ‘MJ’, a track somewhat cryptically named after basketballer Michael Jordan, was propelled by a faster tempo and an aggressive funk-influenced piano groove. ‘Yakinton’, a reharmonisation of a traditional Hebrew lullaby, was played as an intimate duet between piano and trumpet. Three compositions from Herman’s 2019 album Face to Face were also featured, ‘Hayu Leylot’, ‘Winter Light’, and ‘Shva Esre’. Throughout, Valdés and Weinberger’s dynamic range was extraordinary, moving freely between breathy whispers and pyrotechnic ‘outside’ improvisation.

The gig also featured some well-known standards, most notably John Coltrane’s ‘My Favorite Things’ and Nat King Cole’s ‘Nature Boy’. Herman also performed two solo piano pieces, the first, a reinterpretation of Antônio Carlos Jobim’s ‘Luiza’, and the second, ‘Homage to Chopin Prelude no 4’ in E minor. The band ended with two covers of rock classics, David Bowie’s ‘The Man Who Sold The World’ and Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’. After the emotional intensity of the rest of the gig, a finale underscored by a sense of fun offered a very tasteful contrast.

Evenings at Ronnie’s don’t get much better than this.