Ararat
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Ararat

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Press


"Israeli Jazz band strike a chord"

As the four-day long Delhi International Jazz Festival recently ended, Ararat, an Israeli jazz band, surely had an advantage over other international bands when it came to winning Indian hearts.
The band enthralled the audience at Nehru Park as they played some of their famous songs including Sapari Tama, Comci Comca and Ararat. - The Asian Age


"Israeli Jazz band strike a chord"

As the four-day long Delhi International Jazz Festival recently ended, Ararat, an Israeli jazz band, surely had an advantage over other international bands when it came to winning Indian hearts.
The band enthralled the audience at Nehru Park as they played some of their famous songs including Sapari Tama, Comci Comca and Ararat. - The Asian Age


"Songs from around the world"

"Chowdaiah Memorial Hall was packed with hundreds of jazz lovers, who got to witness something they probably weren’t expecting. From Moroccan religious chants, Bulgarian and Polish songs to even Andalusian poems set to music — the band played that and more. Some were smooth and hypnotic, while others had a happy, energetic vibe that saw the vocalist dancing and the audience clapping along".

"What was most appealing was the assortment of instruments played by the musicians — there was a soprano saxophone, Egyptian oud, qawwal, didgeridoo, flutes from Egypt and Turkey, bells, ghungroos, cajon, tombak and even an olive can, used by Jews from Yemen who weren’t allowed to make music".

"It was a rich exchange of culture, where the listener could feel the stories knitted into the lyrics, even if they didn’t know what they meant. There was always a surprise element in each song, which seemed to fascinate and win the hearts of the audiences. “The programme was attended by people from every community, faith, religion and belief. And in that sense, it was hugely successful as it definitely promoted cultural relations,” shares Amitabh, an audience member. His son, Arnav, adds, “It was lovely — the music was meditative, energetic and a lovely blend of different cultures.”
The final piece was an enriching one due to the inclusion of Pandit Narasimhulu Wadavati on the clarinet and a young tabla player named Venkatesh. It was a beautiful collaboration to watch".
- DECCAN HERALD


"Songs from around the world"

"Chowdaiah Memorial Hall was packed with hundreds of jazz lovers, who got to witness something they probably weren’t expecting. From Moroccan religious chants, Bulgarian and Polish songs to even Andalusian poems set to music — the band played that and more. Some were smooth and hypnotic, while others had a happy, energetic vibe that saw the vocalist dancing and the audience clapping along".

"What was most appealing was the assortment of instruments played by the musicians — there was a soprano saxophone, Egyptian oud, qawwal, didgeridoo, flutes from Egypt and Turkey, bells, ghungroos, cajon, tombak and even an olive can, used by Jews from Yemen who weren’t allowed to make music".

"It was a rich exchange of culture, where the listener could feel the stories knitted into the lyrics, even if they didn’t know what they meant. There was always a surprise element in each song, which seemed to fascinate and win the hearts of the audiences. “The programme was attended by people from every community, faith, religion and belief. And in that sense, it was hugely successful as it definitely promoted cultural relations,” shares Amitabh, an audience member. His son, Arnav, adds, “It was lovely — the music was meditative, energetic and a lovely blend of different cultures.”
The final piece was an enriching one due to the inclusion of Pandit Narasimhulu Wadavati on the clarinet and a young tabla player named Venkatesh. It was a beautiful collaboration to watch".
- DECCAN HERALD


"Ease of Jazz"

Ararat gave Bangalore a taste of Israeli jazz, with its myriad influences
Ofer Peled, whose family migrated to Israel from Poland, has been working in the United States and Israel in jazz and other genres of music. On March 18, his current band Ararat was in Bangalore at the invitation of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations to show what Israeli jazz is like, how it mixes seamlessly with various ethnic streams of music that have contributed to his country’s culture, and chiefly to enjoy themselves in exploring these musical blends.
Moyal’s family was from Morocco, so between him and Peled they contributed songs to the repertoire from North Africa and Eastern Europe, including gypsy music and also the klezmer of Eastern European Jews, but also music from the immediate West Asian neighbours of Israel, especially Egypt and Yemen. These are all countries where there are, or were before Israel was founded, sizable Jewish populations, hence have contributed to Israeli music.
The bulk of what Ararat performed was thus Israeli jazz, grounded as it was in all these ethnic streams of folk music with a strong overlay of the solo improvisation that characterises jazz. Rhythm figured strongly in the bill of fare, it being a hallmark not only of jazz but also of these folk musics, as did dollops of verve and passion.
Ararat started with a Bulgarian (possibly gypsy) rhythm­based number in a brisk tempo, with solos on oud, soprano sax and Egyptian flute (Moyal did not sing on this one). They followed with a pulsating piece based on a Moroccan religious chant that Moyal’s father taught him. Peled performed solos on soprano sax and flute, while Moyal contributed a vocal improvisation redolent of Indian classical music, and also blew the didgeridoo.
A Yemeni song, an Andalusian liturgical poem, and a klezmer piece followed, all of them affording scope to the musicians to launch solo improvisations on sax, flute, oud, percussion and vocals. Most of the numbers were brisk­paced and lilting. Peled’s sonorous sax and flutes and Moyal’s powerful voice stood out, but the others pitched in just as well.
This finale was the highlight of the evening, and perhaps surprised some in the audience by the ease with which it blended Indian classical music and jazz, but not yours truly. Both genres of music being strong in improvisation and in rhythm, and jazz not being rigid in the structure and form of composition, there was no problem, and it was all good jazz – mainstream, Israeli or Indian. All six musicians were totally at ease with one another and the audience loved it. - The Hindu


"Ease of Jazz"

Ararat gave Bangalore a taste of Israeli jazz, with its myriad influences
Ofer Peled, whose family migrated to Israel from Poland, has been working in the United States and Israel in jazz and other genres of music. On March 18, his current band Ararat was in Bangalore at the invitation of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations to show what Israeli jazz is like, how it mixes seamlessly with various ethnic streams of music that have contributed to his country’s culture, and chiefly to enjoy themselves in exploring these musical blends.
Moyal’s family was from Morocco, so between him and Peled they contributed songs to the repertoire from North Africa and Eastern Europe, including gypsy music and also the klezmer of Eastern European Jews, but also music from the immediate West Asian neighbours of Israel, especially Egypt and Yemen. These are all countries where there are, or were before Israel was founded, sizable Jewish populations, hence have contributed to Israeli music.
The bulk of what Ararat performed was thus Israeli jazz, grounded as it was in all these ethnic streams of folk music with a strong overlay of the solo improvisation that characterises jazz. Rhythm figured strongly in the bill of fare, it being a hallmark not only of jazz but also of these folk musics, as did dollops of verve and passion.
Ararat started with a Bulgarian (possibly gypsy) rhythm­based number in a brisk tempo, with solos on oud, soprano sax and Egyptian flute (Moyal did not sing on this one). They followed with a pulsating piece based on a Moroccan religious chant that Moyal’s father taught him. Peled performed solos on soprano sax and flute, while Moyal contributed a vocal improvisation redolent of Indian classical music, and also blew the didgeridoo.
A Yemeni song, an Andalusian liturgical poem, and a klezmer piece followed, all of them affording scope to the musicians to launch solo improvisations on sax, flute, oud, percussion and vocals. Most of the numbers were brisk­paced and lilting. Peled’s sonorous sax and flutes and Moyal’s powerful voice stood out, but the others pitched in just as well.
This finale was the highlight of the evening, and perhaps surprised some in the audience by the ease with which it blended Indian classical music and jazz, but not yours truly. Both genres of music being strong in improvisation and in rhythm, and jazz not being rigid in the structure and form of composition, there was no problem, and it was all good jazz – mainstream, Israeli or Indian. All six musicians were totally at ease with one another and the audience loved it. - The Hindu


"strung together"

"watching them performing live was on the wishlist of hundreds of people who assembled at Nehru Park". - The Pioneer


"strung together"

"watching them performing live was on the wishlist of hundreds of people who assembled at Nehru Park". - The Pioneer


"A Noah's ark full of music"

The Saxophone and flute player Ofer Peled releasing a great debut solo album, "Ararat", that will touch many people's hearts with it's Balkan, African and Turkish music. "Ararat" is indeed like a boundless global village, - Israel Post


"Ofer Peled's band - Makondo"

"Ofer Peled's "Makondo" - a band that combines jazz and ethnic music. And here born a new kind of Israeli jazz, an ethnicaly mixed, original and fresh ..." Yossi Hersonsky , Maariv. 28/8/2005 - Yossi Hersonsky - Ma'ariv


"Ofer Peled's band - Makondo"

"Ofer Peled's "Makondo" - a band that combines jazz and ethnic music. And here born a new kind of Israeli jazz, an ethnicaly mixed, original and fresh ..." Yossi Hersonsky , Maariv. 28/8/2005 - Yossi Hersonsky - Ma'ariv


Discography

Original / Solo Recordings

2011 ARARAT - ofer peled's project
2005 Makondo

Recordings as sideman / hired musician

2012 Judith Ravits - sandstorms
2012 Shlomo Gronich
2011 Doron Shefer
2011 Eyal Golan live in Nokia-Hall
2010 Keren peles
2009 Keren ann
2009 Hadorbanim
2009 Eyal Golan live in Cesarea
2009 Mika Sade
2009 Bary Saharov and Rea Mochiach – Eben Gevirol
2008 Yehudit Ravits live in Cesarea
2008 Dudu Fisher - The Singing Kleyzmer
2008 Avi lebovich – Groove Collage
2008 HaGroovatron – The Road Goes On
2007 HaGroovatron
2006 HaDorbanim – Levi
2006 Fourward quartet – Money
2004 Eli Magen – Adam
2003 Zigzag live at the red sea jazz festival
2001 Hot Fur – Don't Touch the Merchandise
2000 Bikini

Photos

Bio

Woodwinds performer / composer Ofer Peled is a leading figure in the Israeli jazz and world music scene.
After playing with Balkan Beat Box and Avi Lebovich orchestra, as well as triple platinum selling artists Shalom Hanoch, Yehudit Ravitz and David D'or,
Ofer founded his own solo project "Ararat", where he melds together Arabic, Gypsy Balkan and African music, side by side with a Jazzy unrestricted approach,
and shows his extraordinary skills on a variety of woodwind instruments.

Ofer started playing the saxophone at the age of 13 and in high school started his professional musical career performing regularly with a jazz ensemble and a saxophone quartet.
In 1998 he began studying in the Jazz department of Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music - an affiliate of Berkley School of Music in Boston.

In 2002 Mr. Peled traveled to India to study Bansuri flute and Indian music with master Pandit Sohan Lal. Upon his return to Israel, Ofer founded the group "Makondo" and released their self-titled debut album in 2005 on Magda Records.
At that time Ofer already based himself as a sought-after reeds player for Jazz, Latin, pop and world music, performing in various concert halls, TV and theater shows, as well as local and international Jazz festivals across Europe and central Asia.

In 2006 Ofer moved to New York to further his international career, where he founded a parallel solo project and performed in venues such as Blue Note and Merkin Concert Hall and collaborated with great musicians such as African Blue Notes and Grammy-award winning trumpet player Frank London ("The Klezmatics" founder and band leader).

Since came back to his homeland in 2008 Ofer continue to compose new music and refine his unique style as it may be heard in his new album "ARARAT" released in 2011.

Ofer is proficient on the following instruments:
- Saxophones (Alto, Tenor, Soprano, Baritone)
- Flute
- Kaval (Bulgarian flute)
- Bansuri (Indian bamboo flute)
- Clarinet