Idan Raichel, a former Israeli soldier who started his music career in the army, will bring his Idan Raichel Project To Australia in March.
In Israel, a stint in the army is compulsory. Idan Raichel formed the initial concept for his band while in service when he joined the army rock band and toured military bases as the musical director of the group.After the army, he became a counsellor for troubled youth. The school had many Ethiopian Jews who taught him about Ethiopian folk and pop.
That became the foundation for the sound that is both ancient and modern with traditional instruments, alongside guitars and electronica, live vocals and sampled sounds. Ethiopian songs, Arabic poetry, Yemenite chants and ancient Jewish psalms.
The first of the Idan Raichel Project albums came in 2002. The majority of the songs are in Hebrew. Idan wrote, arranged and played keyboards on all the songs with a group of rotating musicians and singers.
The Idan Raichel Project has now released three albums.
Australian tour dates are:
March 5, Sydney, Opera House
March 8-9, Adelaide, Womadelaide
March 10, Canberra, Canberra Theatre
March 12, Melbourne, Princes Theatre
March 14, Byron Bay, Community & Cultural Centre
