Yogev Shetrit: Way of Tradition

Ever miss music quizzes? This album is the perfect way to test your musical intelligence. It keeps its jazz roots while weaving in all sorts of global influences. Some Central Asian rhythms and melodies emerge in "Bishkek Ancient City." A different kind of vibe, though from the same region, appears in "Uzbekistan." Distinct Moroccan influences shape Way of Tradition. Listeners might notice echoes of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, or Max Roach. However, the next bar suggests a journey to the mysterious East, visiting the Gnawa tribes in Morocco or experiencing the sounds of Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and Uzbekistan in Central Asia.

Meanwhile, the theme of family runs steadily throughout the album. "Family First" and "Roots" sound melancholic, filled with deep love and care for those who treasure, preserve, carry, and pass on traditions. That is the way tradition flows. "Roots" reflects Yogev Shetrit's Moroccan and Andalusian heritage, featuring rhythms and influences from those traditions. "One for David" is a tribute to David Sheetrit, Yogev Shetrit's friend and a member of the trio. Yogev wrote it to show his appreciation for David's friendship, talent, and contribution to the music they have been making together since 2019.

The idea for the track "Family First" came from Shetrit's daughter. He recorded a melody she was improvising on the piano and then harmonized and developed it into a track for the album. "Bishkek Ancient City" is devoted to the capital of Kyrgyzstan, a post-Soviet country in Central Asia where Shetrit is a regular and warmly welcomed guest, as well as a participant in the Jazz Bishkek Spring Festival. The track absorbs Turkish and local Kyrgyz folk influences.

An experienced and well-traveled drummer, bandleader, and composer, Shetrit transcends not only geographical and genre boundaries in his music, but also takes a multi-instrumental approach to composition. "I can learn from a pianist or a trumpet player, a phrase that I can then translate onto the drums. Whether it is a rhythmic phrase or a melodic one, I do not know exactly how or why, but every time I improve on another instrument, especially piano, but also flute and guitar, I feel a little different on the drums. Drums are my main instrument, but learning more instruments changes my perspective," Shetrit says. And the drums on this album truly sound like a melodic instrument.

This album was not just created in the studio. Before recording, Shetrit and his band had already performed it at live concerts and jazz festivals worldwide, always enjoying a warm reception from audiences. Some audiences love it because it sounds fresh, unfamiliar, and unexpected. Others appreciate it because it feels familiar and close to their own local traditions. In this sense, we can think of Way of Tradition as an album that has already passed the cultural diversity test.