It's difficult for me to offer a thorough reflection upon Mosh Ben-Ari's music because I don't understand Hebrew, but I did see him in concert on Wed. June 18th at Club Opera and definitely enjoyed his performance. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a musician more at peace on stage. He conducted his band, played the occasional sweetly flowing solo, stretched his voice from a tenor to an alto, and maintained a solid stage presence, at all times, while looking as if he was barely moving or lifting a finger, like a graceful lead dancer who peacefully controls each and every one of his partner's dynamic movements without taking a step.
His music was deep and multi-layered with each participant having an opportunity to display their particular talents, notably the trombonist and trumpeter who were pleasantly positioned in the music's forefront, both melodiously and theatrically. The tunes themselves make me think of Paul Simon playing reggae with Bruce Hornsby and Tito Puento under the Arabian Sea, and each time I listen to his album Derech I feel like I'm caught in a Chamsin, while my intuition guides me towards a swirling river, refreshingly surrounded by swaying palms, dates, and desert riddles.
It's really good.
Mosh is quite active in both promoting peaceful relations and breaking down barriers between Israeli and Palestinian people. I wonder if his calm and commanding stage presence is the product of his devotion to peace, free of apprehension, free of militaristic considerations, free.
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