Lester Mak

She fell in love with London the fifth time she came. That was last September when she and her Israeli band, Phoenix Over Manhattan Acoustic, played at the Pizza Express Jazz Club. Seven months later, her sixth time in London, she still loves London amd was keen to show it. And her concert was just as amazing as her last, this time with a new album and some brilliant new original tunes.

For me and my friend Annie, who also came last September with me, the amazemeny for us was to remember the pieces we originally heard seven months ago and still recognise them. (We’re sorry to Judy, we haven’t been listening to your CDs). However, whilst we remembered the familiar melodies, there was something slightly different.

Speaking to Judy afterwards (in the company of two of her new fans who fell in love with her that night), one of her loves of jazz is the ability to improvise, particularly with the band, reacting to what they’re doing and being right on the edge. And improvise they did. You may not notice if you hadn’t been to Judy’s concerts before, but Annie and I certainly did this time.

Judy’s career is astonishing to say the least. She became an accomplished classical pianist at the age of 17, but soon afterwards at the age of 21, she gave all of that up when she moved to Israel to be married. Adopting a strict form of Judaism, she gave up all music for religion, but it wasn’t long before she realised that music was her soul. However, it was only 10 years after she left the US that she decided that she wanted to be a musician again and took to jazz.

When not on the tour circuit, Judy teaches music at a high school in Israel and is currently mentor to three bands she classes as “very promising”. Indeed, her own band, Phoenix Over Manhattan Acoustic once consisted of two of her own students, although the present lineup doesn’t. She is still very highly regarded by her students, many of them will even fly into see her in concert around the world, as one did the night we were there.

Judy has been dubbed the ‘Leading Lady of Jazz Rock Fusion’. It’s no wonder why. Her son (the youngest of four children) introduced her to rock music, and she’s developed a love for it, so much so that she readily admits that it is all that she listens to. One can see the obvious influence of rock in her music, not only in hearing it often trying to burst out of the jazz elements, but even in the titles of her songs. Unique in style, even non-afficianados can get excited by her ‘re-invention’. [Note to Producer: talking of re-invention, maybe we might hear her sing one day too! ]

For us, it was a thoroughly enjoyable night, with music that simply inspires. A masterful musician backed up by a phenomenal band, Judy Lewis and Phoenix Over Manhattan Acoustic is certainly worth seeing live. We’d love to see her the seventh time she’s here in London.

Judy Lewis and Phoenix Over Manhattan Acoustic have just completed their UK tour, but are due to play a concert in Jerusalem on May 19th. For more info, see their website.

Links:
Judy Lewis and Phoenix Over Manhattan Acoustic
Pizza Express Jazz Club

Tagged: Random London