ITamar Boročov is a spectacular trumpeter with a unique voice, who combines the sounds of Israel, the Middle East, North Africa and American jazz into a harmonious whole. His upcoming concerts in Montenegro promise a special experience, announced the Cultural and Information Center (KIC) “Budo Tomović” on the occasion of the upcoming concert of this trumpeter from Israel, which opens the 18th edition of the festival “Month of Jazz Appreciation in Montenegro – JAM 2025”.
The concert will be held in the large hall of the KIC on Tuesday, April 1st at 20 pm. The institution describes him as one of the most prominent and unique trumpeters of his generation.
"Itamar Boročov combines his deep love for the jazz tradition with the sounds of his childhood," said KIC.
His guest appearance will continue over the next two days at the Royal Theater Zetski Dom in Cetinje on April 20nd at 19 pm. He will play at the White Hall of the International School “Adriatc Open School” in Bar on April XNUMXrd at XNUMX pm. Itamar Boročov's Montenegrin tour was supported by the Embassy of Israel in Belgrade.
At the heart of his music is the study of the Maqam, a rich system of modes characteristic of Arabic music, as well as influences from the Sephardic music of his synagogue, which has its roots in medieval Spain and Portugal, and American jazz. His main instrument is a four-valve quarter-tone trumpet, custom-made by the company “Monette”, to incorporate the Maqam into his playing, i.e. the Middle Eastern microtonal modes that are the musical language of his traditional heritage.
"The melodies are strong and striking, and the music is warm and receptive, inviting the listener into an intimate sound environment," describe KIC.
Borochov first heard Sephardic music in his local synagogue and absorbed the makams of the wider Middle East and North Africa, along with various other musical influences. He began playing the trumpet at the age of eleven and devoted himself entirely to exploring jazz, inspired by the trumpet tradition. Louis Armstrong, Clark Terry, Miles Davis, Kenya Drama, Leah Morgan i Book Litla, all the way to Vintona Marsalisa, while citing Ben Webster as an influence for his confident, yet dreamily warm, airy tone. In 2007, Borochov moved to New York to study at the New School and attend the famous weekly workshops of jazz masters. Barry Harris. He expresses his deep knowledge of various musical disciplines naturally in his original jazz creations, building a bridge between the Middle East and the modal styles of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and others.
“This synergistic pursuit is accomplished with great integrity, demonstrating a deep knowledge only possible in one who has experienced these traditions firsthand,” writes Jazz magazine about him.
The album Arba, which means “four” in Hebrew, is Borochov’s fourth discographic release as the band’s leader, recorded over two days in April 2022 at the Big Orange Sheep studio in Brooklyn, with a quartet of sought-after New York musicians and producer Matt Pierce, a Grammy Award winner. The album was released by Greenleaf Music in 2023. The nine compositions were created during his return to Jaffa in 2020, which was supposed to be short, but was extended to a year due to the pandemic.
Borochov grew up in the port city of Jaffa in a musical family - he is the son of composer and bassist Israel Borochov, leader of the East West ensemble, called the "Peter Gabriel of Israel", and his brother Avri is a double bassist. He now lives in New York, where he creates a new musical hybrid from the wide range of influences of his rich global environment. From there, he has been building his international career for years, touring all over the world. He has performed on four continents and played in prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, the Summer Stage in Central Park, the historic jazz clubs "Blue Note" in New York, "Ronnie Scott's" in London, the concert halls "Bimhuis" in Amsterdam, "Flagey" in Brussels, as well as at international festivals such as Roskilde, Vitoria, Lviv, Montreal & Ottawa Jazz Festivals, London Jazz Festival, Moscow Jazz Festival, Tel Aviv & Red Sea Jazz Festivals, Jazz à Liège and Shanghai World Music Festival. Itamar Borohov's Quartet was selected to perform at WOMEX 2019 in Tampere, Finland. It also won the prestigious "LetterOne Rising Stars Jazz Award" (European edition), presented by jazz diva Dee Dee Bridgewater in 2021.
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