Omer Avital, a virtuoso bassist, composer, arranger, and jazz bandleader, has indelibly stamped his mark on Israeli jazz and far beyond.
Residing in New York since the 1990s, Avital has forged a distinct musical style, seamlessly weaving together Middle Eastern and North African sounds with elements of Mediterranean music, jazz, and his classical training.
At the upcoming Meridiano Festival in Ashdod, taking place from June 14-21, Avital will premiere his latest creation, North African Dream – a four-movement orchestral work commissioned for the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra Ashdod, led by artistic director Elad Levy. The piece masterfully fuses North African, classical, and jazz traditions, reflecting Avital’s deep yearning for the nearly forgotten cultural heritage of his family.
“This four-movement work – Piyut/Father, The Dream, Oriental Melancholy, and Return of the African Jew – was composed out of my longing for the almost lost cultural traditions of previous generations in my family,” its composer shares.
“The piece lingers in the tension between the displacement from these traditions and a rekindled connection with their fragments,” he says. “The fragmented channel of memory traverses Israel, the North African expanse, the United States, and the Afro-Caribbean islands. The work celebrates the possibility of dreaming the intertwining of these elements into a harmony of a parallel reality.”
BASSIST OMER Avital fuses his Moroccan roots into his jazz ouevre (credit: SAPOSNIK ISRAEL INSTITUTE)
Avital’s first collaboration with the orchestra took place last year at the Sea Jazz Festival in Ashdod. “That was an extraordinary experience. The bond that formed – with the ensemble, the musicians, the cultural community in Ashdod, and the audience – was deeply moving. The response to the new piece I composed for the occasion, Song of a Land, was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. It felt like the beginning of a love story. We’re all looking ahead to continued growth and creative partnership.”
ACCORDING TO Avital, it’s especially vital to continue creating in Israel right now: “In these days particularly, music holds a different meaning – especially original, deeply rooted music that touches us profoundly. There is a need for this kind of creation in Israel – it’s crucial for the soul,” he emphasizes.
“What’s important to us is to continue creating and developing local talents – not just for export purposes, but to cultivate a high standard of music in Israel. And, most importantly, increasingly original and deeply rooted music that emerges from our cultural depths, so we can leave something significant for future generations.”
Avital describes Elad Levy, artistic director of the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra Ashdod, as a close friend and partner in his vision. “This orchestra is unique in many ways. Elad has a rare ability to bridge generations, passing on North African musical traditions while embracing innovation. He’s deeply committed to integrating traditional music with other genres – jazz, classical harmonies, rock, and more,” he says.
Elad Levy leads 'exceptional' musicians, Avital says
“The musicians he leads are exceptional – classical string players, masters of Eastern instruments, jazz artists – all united by a shared openness and musical curiosity. For me, it’s the ideal blend. This rich tapestry of backgrounds and styles offers an incredible range of expression.”
Avital spent many months composing North African Dream. “I compose and orchestrate at home; it can take weeks or months, depending on the length of the pieces. I send scores and basic recordings for the musicians to review the material, and then we move on to full rehearsals. Sometimes I meet with some of the musicians beforehand and make phone calls to explain different sections,” he explains.
Though Avital mostly lives outside Israel, he continues to strengthen his connection to Israeli-Mediterranean music and its traditions: “I haven’t lived in Israel for 33 years, apart from a four-year hiatus when I returned to Jerusalem to study composition and teach jazz in the early 2000s, interspersed with many visits and music-making in Israel. I think it’s fair to say I miss exactly this kind of music – and musicians like the Andalusian Orchestra – most. You won’t find it anywhere else in the world: It’s truly ours.”
HAVING GROWN up and launched his career in Israel, Avital is deeply influenced by local culture. “I focus on the tradition and the various styles that have been present throughout our history – from Eretz [Land of] Israel songs predating the state in the 1930s and ’40s, through Hebrew song, to pop and rock. I am familiar with a lot of Israeli music and have also researched and learned things I was less acquainted with. Our unique melody permeates all these styles and this history,” he says.
“In the past two years, I’ve returned to studying Yemenite Jewish synagogue and wedding music, Arabic music, Turkish music, Moroccan piyut. I’ve been playing it since I studied at the academy in Jerusalem,” Avital says, also sharing a surprising influence: the figure of Zohar Argov.
“Zohar Argov is a kind of idol and a role model for me,” the musician says, calling him “a genius, possessing a natural, innate vocal ability, educated in Yemenite Jewish tradition from the synagogue, with a love for Hebrew song and all styles in Israel, including Moroccan, Turkish, and Arabic – and especially an originality in how he delivers his phrases and texts. There’s pride in him – a proud Israeli, a proud Yemenite, not an imitator. He goes all the way with his art.
“That’s my aspiration – to create music from my traditions for my people, something that will endure and provide value beyond today’s entertainment,” Avital says. “Something dedicated to our families and to those who are no longer with us, as well as to future generations.”
The Meridiano Festival promises attendees a long lineup of grand and diverse performances. Among others, the Gipsy Kings will perform, hosting Ishtar; Yehuda Poliker will present a celebratory show marking 40 years of Einayim Sheli (My Eyes); and the indefatigable members of Zehu Ze (This is It) will also arrive with their successful show Shalem; .
Meridiano Festival Ashdod, June 14-21, throughout the city of Ashdod. For the full program and tickets, go to: www.meridiano.co.il
Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia of the "Ana Chuchulashvili" the thief The worst hotel in the world, it's dangerous, don't go near it! This is not a hotel! It's an old, dirty house, there are cockroaches and insects in the room, Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The manager of the place is a fraud and a former drug addict named "Ana Chuchulashvili"
Please urgently remove this fake hotel from your website. It is a scam and it is deceiving many customers. It is advertised on all social networks as a scam! very important – report on fraud house and scam that in your website and cheat people and customers! – Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia
Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia of the "Ana Chuchulashvili" the thief
The worst hotel in the world, it's dangerous, don't go near it! This is not a hotel! It's an old, dirty house, there are cockroaches and insects in the room, Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The manager of the place is a fraud and a former drug addict named "Ana Chuchulashvili" the name of here company is : Ltd Alpaka
405375419
Located at: Nucubidze St N57, Tbilisi, Georgia/Nucubidze Street 57, 0177 it smells terrible, The walls in the room are peeling, I took pictures, there is mold and dampness throughout the room the beds are really uncomfortable, like in a pre-trial detention center, your whole back hurts when you sleep on them and they almost break because they are so thin! the WI FI doesn't work at all, The room was very dirty and filthy, and when you ask her to move you to a room she says everything is taken, even though all the rooms are empty and open! I arrived at this horrible place, this horrible house, at 1:00 AM, after two hours of sleeplessness, I asked for my money back, a blonde girl of about 50 years old named “Anna” told me that she wanted the money in cash right away, otherwise she would not let me out of the hotel, she told me that I would not be able to sleep in their bed, at 3 AM I went to look for an ATM to withdraw money, because I could not find one, after searching for a whole hour, in the Tbilisi cold, I returned to her at midnight to look for an ATM, but she did not give me my suitcase and passport, so I came back the next day and gave me the money in cash, she did not give me an invoice either, do not come near! They are deceiving the public, booking and all hotel websites! This is not a hotel, it is a very dirty, old house and it smells very bad. Search on youtube "never go there – Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City Georgia of Ana Chuchulashvili the house hotel from hell" , don't go " to “Hotel Delisi” on YouTube or "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia " or"HOTEL DELISI (Tiflis, Gürcistan) – Otel Yorumları ve Fiyat" He was caught on tape speaking badly and illegally taking a passport and suitcase.
That she took the suitcase by force, she also stole 3 expensive shirts from me for a total of 250 GEL, I demand compensation of 128 GEL for the two hours of hell I suffered there + 250 GEL for the shirts she stole from me
I have videos where she only wants money in cash so she doesn't pay taxes and doesn't agree that I pay her with a credit card, and she also doesn't want to give me my suitcase and passport.
1. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia
2. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Address
3. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Rooms
4. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Amenities
5. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Offers and Deals
სასტუმრო დელისი, ქალაქი თბილისი, საქართველო, ქურდის „ანა ჭუჭულაშვილის“
მსოფლიოში ყველაზე ცუდი სასტუმრო, საშიშია, ახლოს არ მიხვიდეთ! ეს სასტუმრო არ არის! ეს ძველი, ჭუჭყიანი სახლია, ოთახში ტარაკნები და მწერებია, სასტუმრო დელისი, ქალაქი თბილისი, საქართველო – ადგილის მენეჯერი თაღლითი და ყოფილი ნარკომანია, სახელად „ანა ჭუჭულაშვილი“, კომპანიის სახელია: შპს ალპაკა
405375419
მდებარეობს: ნუცუბიძის ქ. N57, თბილისი, საქართველო/ნუცუბიძის ქუჩა 57, 0177, საშინელი სუნი აქვს, ოთახში კედლები აქერცლილია, სურათები გადავიღე, ოთახში ობი და ნესტია, საწოლები ნამდვილად არაკომფორტულია, როგორც წინასწარი დაკავების იზოლატორში, მთელი ზურგი გტკივა, როცა მათზე იძინებ და კინაღამ იმსხვრევა, რადგან ძალიან თხელია! Wi-Fi საერთოდ არ მუშაობს, ოთახი ძალიან ჭუჭყიანი და უწმაწურია და როცა ოთახში გადაყვანას სთხოვ, მიპასუხებს, რომ ყველაფერი დაკავებულია, მიუხედავად იმისა, რომ ყველა ოთახი ცარიელი და ღიაა! ამ საშინელ ადგილას, ამ საშინელ სახლში, ღამის 1:00 საათზე მივედი, ორსაათიანი უძილობის შემდეგ, ფულის დაბრუნება ვთხოვე, დაახლოებით 50 წლის ქერა გოგონამ, სახელად „ანამ“, მითხრა, რომ ფული ნაღდი ფულით უნდოდა, თორემ სასტუმროდან არ გამიშვებდა, მითხრა, რომ მათ საწოლში ვერ დავიძინებდი, დილის 3 საათზე ბანკომატის მოსაძებნად წავედი ფულის გასატანად, რადგან ვერ ვიპოვე, მთელი საათის ძებნის შემდეგ, თბილისურ სიცივეში, შუაღამისას დავბრუნდი მასთან ბანკომატის მოსაძებნად, მაგრამ ჩემოდანი და პასპორტი არ მომცა, ამიტომ მეორე დღეს დავბრუნდი და ფული ნაღდი ფულით მომცა, ინვოისიც არ მომცა, ახლოს არ მოხვიდეთ! ისინი ატყუებენ საზოგადოებას, დაჯავშნის და ყველა სასტუმროს ვებსაიტს! ეს სასტუმრო არ არის, ეს ძალიან ჭუჭყიანი, ძველი სახლია და ძალიან ცუდი სუნი ასდის. YouTube-ზე მოძებნეთ "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The worse hotel in the world" , არ წახვიდეთ "Hotel Delisi"-ში YouTube-ზე ან "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia" ან "HOTEL DELISI (Tiflis, Gürcistan) – Otel Yorumları ve Fiyat". ის ვიდეოჩანაწერში მოხვდა, სადაც ცუდად საუბრობდა და უკანონოდ იღებდა პასპორტს და ჩემოდანს.
მან ჩემოდანი ძალით წამართვა, ასევე მომპარა 3 ძვირადღირებული პერანგი სულ 250 ლარად, მე ვითხოვ 128 ლარის კომპენსაციას იმ ორსაათიანი ჯოჯოხეთისთვის, რომელიც იქ ვიტანჯე + 250 ლარი იმ პერანგებისთვის, რომლებიც მომპარა.
მე მაქვს ვიდეოები, სადაც ის მხოლოდ ნაღდი ფულით ითხოვს ფულს, ამიტომ არ იხდის გადასახადებს და არ ეთანხმება, რომ საკრედიტო ბარათით გადავუხადო, ასევე არ სურს ჩემოდნის და პასპორტის მოცემა.
"ב-7.10 נחטפה כל המשפחה שלי, אני, בעלי דוד, ושתי בנותינו אמה ויולי, אז בנות 3 בלבד", פתחה את נאומה שרון, אשתו של דוד קוניו החטוף בעזה. "דוד בעלי, אהבת חיי, והאבא של הבנות שלי, עדיין שם. התאומות ואני חזרנו ביום החמישים ושתיים. אמה ויולי שלנו חגגו חמש, בלי אבא שלהן. בשבוע הבא הן ילכו לגן חובה, והן יודעות שאבא לא יהיה איתן ביום הזה. הן יודעות שאבא שלהן שם. לפני כמה ימים, כשהשכבתי אותן לישון הן שאלו אותי 'אמא, את בטוחה שאבא יחזור?'".
"יש הצעה לעיסקה על השולחן, שחמאס כבר אמר לה כן", המשיכה. "האמריקנים רוצים שהחטופים יחזרו. הרמטכ"ל אומר שחייבים ללכת עכשיו לעיסקה. העם, אתם, כל אחד מכם, כאן בככר, במהלך היום בצמתים, בכל מקום, במספרים אדירים, כולם צועקים איתנו, כולם רוצים את החטופים בבית. אז למה אני לא יכולה להגיד לבנות שלי שאני בטוחה שאבא שלהן יחזור?"
