Itamar Borochov - Imanu (2026)

New York-based trumpeter and composer Itamar Borochov has released his fifth album as a leader, "Imanu," following his 2023 release "Arba." The new record was recorded with his long-standing touring quartet, featuring pianist Rob Clearfield, bassist Luca Fattorini, and drummer Amir Bar Akiva. Departing from the vocal-heavy direction of his previous work, this release is primarily an instrumental project. Borochov plays a custom Monette quarter-tone trumpet, seamlessly embedding Middle Eastern maqam traditions into the framework of modern jazz.

The core theme of the record revolves around healing from adversity and discovering meaning through spiritual expression. The album's structural foundation draws from Jewish prayer traditions, the philosophy of Hasidic nigunim, and the modal language of Arabic maqamat. Pieces such as "Saba" pay homage to ancestral roots and the tradition of taksim improvisation, while tracks like "Nigun" and "Perpetual" incorporate wordless vocal chanting by the ensemble. Musically, the album fuses jazz waltzes, soul influences, tertiary rhythms, and complex harmonic progressions, shaping a continuous spiritual journey.

Itamar Borochov, trumpet
Rob Clearfield, piano
Luca Fattorini, double bass
Amir Bar Akiva, drums

Tracklist:
1. Itamar Borochov - Tears Down Your Lashes
2. Itamar Borochov - Narrow Waters
3. Itamar Borochov - Lubavitch
4. Itamar Borochov - Imanu
5. Itamar Borochov - Narrow Waters II
6. Itamar Borochov - Saba
7. Itamar Borochov - Nigun
8. Itamar Borochov - Perpetual
9. Itamar Borochov - And He Will Laugh, And He Will Hum
10. Itamar Borochov - Lami