ABOUT ALON FARBER
Saxophonist and composer Alon Farber is one of the leading voices in
contemporary Israeli jazz.
Blending rich harmonic language, intricate contrapuntal writing, and a deep sensitivity for ensemble sound, Farber has developed a distinctive musical voice that bridges New York swing, Middle Eastern modalities, Afro-Latin rhythms, and modern jazz aesthetics.
In 2001, Farber founded Alon Farber Hagiga, an ensemble that has become a
cornerstone of Israel’s jazz scene. Over more than two decades, Hagiga has
released six albums on respected international labels including Fresh Sound
Records (Barcelona), QFTF (Berlin), and Origin Records (Seattle). The band has performed at major festivals worldwide, including the Paris Jazz Festival,
Copenhagen Jazz Festival, and the Red Sea Jazz Festival, and has toured in
Europe, China, and South America.
Farber is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied jazz
composition with distinction. He is the recipient of the Wayne Shorter Award and the Sadao Watanobe Award (1998), and in 2016 he was honored with the Israeli Prime Minister’s Award for Jazz Composers.
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His most recent album, Dreams I Dream (Origin Records), celebrates 25 years of Hagiga and has received international acclaim. DownBeat praised the
ensemble’s longevity and artistic depth, highlighting the album as a mature and focused statement from a bandleader at the height of his powers.
Beyond his work as a performer and composer, Farber is also a co-founder of
the Israeli Jazz Orchestra, where he serves as lead saxophonist, arranger, and
composer.
With a powerful ensemble of outstanding musicians and a sound that is both
rooted and forward-looking, Alon Farber continues to shape the evolving voice of modern Israeli jazz on the international stage.
Group Members
Alon Farber
Alto & Soprano Saxophone
Yehonatan Cohen
Tenor Saxophone, Flute & Clarinet
Oded Meir
Trombone
Katia Tubul
Piano
Assaf Hakimi
Upright Bass & Electric Bass
Roy Oliel
Drums
Article Quotes
Yair Spiegel
"No wonder that "Hagiga" exists for such a long time. The music is original, fascinating, arranged and orchestrated on the highest level. The music is inspired by Israeli and Middle Eastern genres, but the general sound is very unique, contemporary, kicking and not flattering to the Israeli ear"
Thesideman.co.il
Eli Degibri
"New Directions is a well-crafted CD led by Saxophonist Alon Farber and drummer Dani Benedikt whose writing is original and smart, balanced and most importantly, thoughtfully aware of each one of the individual band members. Taking their time, the band captivates the listener through a deliberate, interesting and wondrous journey"
Linear notes to the CD