Waking the Heart Nadav Berkovits

• 1 The Dream 09:36
• 2 Ras 07:37
• 3 España 07:29
• 4 Song for Avi 08:42
• 5 Eurydice 08:37
• 6 Ensof 07:08
• 7 Lament 08:53
• Total Runtime 58:02

Info for Waking the Heart

In his Debut Album 'Waking the Heart’, Nadav is exposing a variety of influences from Straight Ahead Jazz to North African Rhythms, and Afro Cuban music, influenced by his musical journey to Cuba. The album features some of the best Israeli Jazz musicians including Itamar Borochov on Trumpet, Yuval Drabkin on tenor sax, Omri Bar Giora on guitar, Oz Yehiely on bass, Shai Yuval on drums and Nadav Berkovits on piano.

“For me, ‘Waking the Heart’ was a spiritual journey started back in 2018 when I traveled to Cuba where I was exposed to a new world of culture and music. This experience led me to dig deep within myself and begin to compose my own music. Some of the tunes were written in Havana and some of them in India, Sinai (Egypt) and Jerusalem. In 2020, when Covid-19 started and everything stopped, I had the opportunity to get in the studio with some of my best friends and best musicians around. I really hope ‘Waking the Heart’ will inspire you to join me on this musical journey.” (Nadav Berkovits)

Concerning his new relationship with Ubuntu Music, Nadav continues: “I’m truly excited to join the Ubuntu Family and to be working with Mr. Hummel. Martin was very supportive and passionate about putting my music out there and I am thankful about having Ubuntu as the new home for my album. I’m really glad about this opportunity and I look forward to our future together.”

Nadav Berkovits, piano
Itamar Borochov, trumpet (tracks 1, 2)
Yuval Drabkin, tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 5, 7)
Omri Bar Giora, guitar (tracks 1, 4)
Oz Yehiely, bass
Shai Yuval, drums

adav Berkovits
is a musician, pianist and composer based in Israel. Born to a musical family, he was exposed from a young age to jazz, classical and Afro-Cuban music, as well as Israeli and Middle Eastern. Growing up in such a diverse environment led him to explore different musical territories. In his music, Nadav often combines of all these traditions.

After graduating from the New School Jazz Program in Tel Aviv Conservatory and the Jerusalem Academy of Music, Nadav travelled several times to Cuba in order to explore Afro-Cuban music and its culture, focusing on composing new, original music in his own voice.

Nadav also gained experience in the last decade as a sideman, while performing with different groups in Israel's finest venues and abroad, such as Marseille Jazz Des Cinq Continents Festival, Red Sea Jazz Festival, Jerusalem Jazz Festival and more.

Nadav’s debut album, Waking the Heart, was released in December 2021 on Ubuntu Music.

Since then, he’s been touring with his group in Israel, performing in Beit Haamudim, Yellow Submarine, Levontin 7 and other venues.

Nadav discusses his latest solo piano project: “’Cycle & Line’ is my first solo piano recording. I’ve been dreaming about it and imagining it for a long time. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to make this happen. My intention was to perform some new compositions just the way I would play these at home by myself, and to let the melodies tell the story.

“After doing ‘Liberation Kriya’ (Kundalini Yoga meditation) for 40 days, I felt like this was the right time and soon thereafter I had the opportunity to record this project.

“My intention was to bring out the melodies as much as I could and let these evolve very freely through improvisation. This five track EP is just me, the piano, and the music of that moment in time.”

Nadav shares his views on his continued relationship with Ubuntu Music: “I’m really happy to be working again with Martin (Hummel), Sam (Carelse) and the team at Ubuntu Music. Since releasing ‘Waking the Heart’ - my debut album - Ubuntu has become my musical home and it’s amazing to see how it’s developed since. I’m looking forward to our latest collaboration.”

This album contains no booklet.