Omer Leshem - Play Space (2024) [Hi-Res]

Play Space is Leshem’s third studio album and was recorded with his quintet. Alongside Leshem on tenor saxophone are some of New York's finest and most innovative musicians including pianist Moshe Elmakias, guitarist Nadav Remez, bassist Elam Friedlander, and drummer Ben Silashi. All members of the quintet are Israelis currently residing in New York City. Their performance demonstrates both their expertise in modern jazz playing and their passion towards their shared ethnic roots.

Play Space features Leshem’s original music. His nine compositions reveal a mixture of warmth and nostalgia together with energetic North African grooves, a touch of free jazz, and Middle Eastern influences. The combination between Leshem’s uniquely lyrical and multicultural compositions and the band members' ecstatic playing gives Play Space a highly distinct and fresh sound.

After performing and refining their music for several years, Leshem finally decided to take the band to the studio. The album was recorded in June 2023 at the iconic Dreamland Studios, a remote church nestled within the forest just outside of Woodstock, NY. Play Space was recorded by engineer Ariel Shafir and the music was mixed and mastered by the great Dave Darlington.

Leshem, a renowned saxophonist and doctor of clinical psychology, has long been interested in the concept of “play”. In Play Space, he decided to pay an homage to the British psychoanalyst Donald Winnicot, who devoted his career to studying child play. This form of playing exists simultaneously in both reality and fantasy. The child’s imagination liberates “real” objects from the rules and limitations of physics. Leshem found striking resemblance between this sort of playing and music playing. As musicians engage in imaginative composition and improvisation, they find “real” notes to express their unrestricted musical imagination just as a child may find a mighty warship in a simple toy. Leshem’s simple and often catchy compositional style is inspired by, and aims to mimic, the freedom and innocence found in child play.

Regarding his new partnership with Ubuntu Music, Leshem elaborates: “I am excited to join the Ubuntu Music Family and collaborate with mastermind Martin Hummel and his team on this thrilling release. I am highly appreciative of Mr. Hummel’s vision and appreciation of details. This is my most ambitious musical project thus far. I have waited for a long time to gather the right musicians to perform these materials. Their outstanding music playing demonstrates incredible craftsmanship and deep understanding of my music. I am very proud of the result and delighted to share ‘Play Space’ with the world through a partnership with Ubuntu Music.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shares his thoughts: “It was such a pleasure to be introduced to Omer and his fascinating project. We have a number of friends in common and it was only natural that, given the quality of the recording and the exceptional standard of playing, we would agree to be partners in the release of ‘Play Space’. The music is a wonderful combination of traditional jazz meets the Middle East and North Africa, all of which is beautifully held together by Omer. We welcome him to the Ubuntu Music Family.”