Great to be back at Pluto studios in Tel Aviv. Recording three projects – an English recording, one in Hebrew and a spontaneous instrumental with violin and percussion. I brought some instruments with me and mixed them with a few studio drums to create a hybrid kit and a special sound for the project.
I am working with classical violinist Ruth Fazal and studio engineer Paul Milner from Canada. The Hebrew project is a unique mix of songs sung by Ruth and Gil, a male orthodox Jew. Over the last few years Ruth and Gil have been dialoguing about their walks of faith and have come to appreciate each others passion for God. They have become friends and are walking together in the things that they have in common. Last year I had the privilege to play music with them in churches and a synagogue in the UK. After the recording we took six days just to wander around the country – meeting some amazing people.
We were invited to share shabbat in Tel Aviv with a family of modern orthodox Jews (the wife runs a female dance company – which in itself is going against all customs) who have an open door every Friday night. The planned intimate evening in their home was abandoned as the house filled with unexpected last minute guests and the tables were reset in the streets. Passing cars were not fazed! We met a young Hasidic family on an orthodox settlement in Samaria, (who the week before had to confront a tractor that was going to destroy their crops – due to disputed lands), stayed with Messianic friends in a community surrounded by Arab mosques, visited the ancient site of Shiloh and walked Hezekiah’s tunnel in the City of David, Jerusalem with a 75 year old lady from Ireland!!!! Every one has a story and everyone has a perspective. The quote of the trip whilst in the disputed territories was “Depending on your view point; this land is called the West Bank, occupied territories or Samaria, but I call it home”. We always come back challenged.
Found a unique Palestinian coffee house!
