Roy Mor: After The Real Thing (UBU0081)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of the exceptional Israeli pianist/composer/arranger Roy Mor, for the worldwide release of his debut album, After The Real Thing, on 21st May 2021.
Roy’s music has been described as “modern and daring yet remains firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, cutting seamlessly across many moods” (La Repubblica). His playing has been referred to as both “melodic” and “energetic”, and his compositions as having “a genuine quality that flows seamlessly from his inner voice as a player - strong, evocative, harmonically complex and rhythmically alive”.
Roy’s artistic journey illustrates his varied facets and interests: after a stint studying acting, serving as a military paratrooper, and earning a university degree in Philosophy with honours, he left a career as a software engineer with Microsoft to move to New York and pursue his true passion: music.
While in NYC, Roy performed as both a leader and sideman at many of the city’s best jazz venues and collaborated with some of New York’s most acclaimed and up-and-coming artists, including Francisco Mela, Tyshawn Sorey, Stacy Dillard, Anat Cohen and Jazzmeia Horn, among others.
Before moving to New York, Roy led his own trio and quartet, wrote music for theatrical productions, played as a pianist with The Israeli Big Band and performed at major festivals in Israel. He also had the privilege of studying and performing with saxophonist and educator Arnie Lawrence at the International Center for Creative Music in Jerusalem.
In New York he had the chance to complete his musical studies at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music under a generous merit scholarship, during which he was placed on the Dean’s List, and had the opportunity to study under the mentorship of renowned jazz masters and some of his personal musical heroes. His recordings received regular airplay on Jazz FM Radio and BBC radio, and he won the Eubie Blake Foundation award two years in a row, and has performed his music internationally in Italy, Denmark, Canada, Spain and Cuba.
Since his return to Israel Roy has led several groups of musicians playing his compositions which draw from many influences - from hard-bop through classical music to West African styles - and fuses them into what he calls a “biblical sound”, inspired by Israeli multiculturalism and his own Middle Eastern roots. In addition to original music, Roy’s bands continue to explore new interpretations of Israeli classics and fresh renditions of standards. He leads a trio, quartet and sextet that plays regularly in Israel and internationally.
In the last few years Roy has recorded and performed with celebrated oud and guitar player Amos Hoffman (winner of the Landau Prize for the Arts) and with renowned flutist, Avichai Ornoy, and collaborated on special projects with artists such as Avishai Cohen (trumpet), Ofer Ganor, Alon Oleartchik, Anat Cohen, Ehud Ettun, Noam David, Gregory Rivkin, Yuval Cohen and Gilad Ronen. He has also performed with Esperanza Spalding, Roberto Gatto, Dave Douglas, Ben Wendel, Eli Degibri, Greg Tardy, Tivon Pennicott, Deantoni Parks and others.
Together with renowned saxophonist and vocalist Abate Berihun, Roy formed the “Addis Ken Project” in 2018, a unique world music and Ethio-jazz ensemble that plays deeply spiritual soul music inspired by age-old Jewish-Ethiopian prayers, afrobeat and the blues. The project’s music was recently described as "an encounter between ancient Jewish Ethiopian traditions and the spirit of a modern jazz ensemble, employing musical adventurousness, rich harmonies, and heartfelt blues" and has received acclaim in the press. The group has performed internationally in jazz festivals in Panama, Denmark, Canada and Israel and won the Israeli Ministry of Culture’s highest artistic grant in 2020.
Roy is a recipient of the Eubie Blake Foundation award for 2013 and 2014, and of the Dodge Foundation Grant for 2012, 2013 and 2014. He is a recipient of the Rabinovich Foundation for The Arts award for 2015, and an Outstanding Artist Grant from the Israeli Ministry of Culture in 2016. In 2019, he received an artistic award from Mifal HaPais Council for the Culture and Arts.
Regarding his latest project, After The Real Thing, Roy explains, “I’m really excited to be releasing my debut album as a bandleader. This album includes original music I’ve composed in the last few years, along with new arrangements of Israeli classics and fresh interpretations of two of my favourite standards. The music on this album is special to me because in many ways, it describes my physical and musical journey from Israel to New York and back. While the album was recorded in Brooklyn with some of my favourite musicians, a few of the songs were written years ago in my hometown Jerusalem, some in New York City which I called home for a few years, and some in my current city of Tel Aviv. These songs were inspired by various places, people and encounters I had in each of those cities and draw from the many musical influences I found there, from Middle Eastern music to hard bop, and more. On this album I was happy to collaborate with a good friend - oud and guitar master Amos Hoffman (Avishai Cohen) whose unique sound is featured on some of the tracks on the album. This album turned out somewhat eclectic in terms of styles and musical instrumentation, which I love! In the end it’s all different facets of my personality and musical taste, and I’m happy to finally get to share it.”
In terms of his newly formed relationship with Ubuntu Music, Roy continues, “I am delighted and thankful for having Ubuntu Music as a home for this album and my music. I first came to know Martin Hummel a few years ago when we met to discuss a collaboration on a different project, and I was struck by his passion for the music and his professionalism. Since then, I have been following the amazing growth of Ubuntu Music and the way Martin has been realizing an ambitious vision of building a unique label like Ubuntu, which is both admirable and inspiring. Martin’s dedication, enthusiasm, and attention for the musicians is very evident, and this creates a relationship of trust, where I feel the Label understands my needs and goals as an artist. And I really relate to the idea behind the Label’s roster, which is selective and yet at the same time so diverse, representing such incredible talent from around the globe and across many genres and styles in Jazz. I’m honoured to be part of the Ubuntu Family and I’m excited about things to come.”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shared his thoughts: “I was first introduced to Roy and his music through Jazz FM’s Ruth Fisher, and I subsequently embarked on a journey of Roy, his music, his collaborations and the essence of the man as a dedicated artist to his trade. He’s a tireless, consummate professional who is now ready to share his music with the world, and I am certain the world is ready to embrace ‘After The Real Thing’ in a very big way.”
