Jazz Articles about Noam Lemish

About Noam Lemish

Album Review

Dr. Purgatory: The Consumption: A Tragic Folkale in Six Parts

Read "The Consumption: A Tragic Folkale in Six Parts" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
April 22, 2025

Guitarist David Riddel}, aka Dr. Purgatory mixes up the influences of Dutch guitarist Reinier Baas, Maurice Ravel and Bjork and more. Everything I compose is essentially influenced by her (Bjork's) 2001 album <em>Vespertine</em> (Elektra)," Riddel says. Under those influences, he has produced a futuristic, chamber jazz, {{m: Herbie Hancock-esque fantasy soundtrack of sorts with The Consumption: A Tragic Folk Tale In Six Parts. His septet, featuring his guitars, two reed players, a violin, piano, bass, and drums, makes ...

Album Review

Noam Lemish: Twelve

by Jack Bowers
December 7, 2022

The number Twelve has several explicit meanings on Israeli-born composer/pianist Noam Lemish's eighth album as leader of his own ensemble, which is twelve members strong (well, thirteen on the first two numbers, on which Laura Swankey adds wordless vocals, and twenty-five if one counts the thirteen-member chorus on Track 3). Returning to the basic premise, Lemish composed his first piece of music at age twelve, and it has been twelve years since he relocated from San Francisco to Toronto, Canada. ...

Album Review

Noam Lemish: Erlebnisse

Read "Erlebnisse" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
December 1, 2021

Long a part of the Toronto jazz scene, pianist Noam Lemish hasn't at all been limited to that genre. He has made plenty of jazz recordings, some of the best of which include drummer George Marsh: their self-produced duo album Nightfall (2013) is an especially winning slice of post-bop jazz. But Lemish may be at his best when he's disregarding stylistic confines. Israeli folk forms and classical motifs are some of the resources that make appearances in his work, giving ...

Album Review

Noam Lemish: Erlebnisse

Read "Erlebnisse" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
November 23, 2021

Pianist Noam Lemish carries multiple talents in his jam-packed bag of tricks: jazz artist, classical composer, improviser, accompanist. The Toronto- based artist-educator is probably best known for his leader/co-leader work in several different ensembles, including his jazz quartet and a twelve piece chamber jazz orchestra and jazz choir. With 2021's Erlebnisse he pares things down and goes it alone (Covid may have been a factor) at the piano, creating sixteen in-the-moment improvisations that dig into “deeply felt experiences" (the English ...

Album Review

Noam Lemish / George Marsh: Nightfall

Read "Nightfall" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni

by Eyal Hareuveni
December 11, 2013

Nightfall is the second recording of Israeli, Toronto-based, pianist Noam Lemish and veteran Bay Area drummer and educator George Marsh (after Yes And, 2008). The set of original compositions and improvisations feature the breadth of their musical universes. Lemish studied classical music and jazz in Israel, and continued his studies under the tutelage of composer W.A. Mathieu in Sonoma, California. He then went on to teach music in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan before settling in Toronto. Marshs' resume includes ...