Israel's musical messenger

Israeli Idan Raichel has become one of his country’s foremost musicians by incorporating the diversity of the sounds of Israel, and the world into his own. He urges the same musical curiosity in his listeners: “Search for music. Don’t let the algorithm choose the music for you.”

After training in jazz, playing in IDF bands, and backing other musicians, he formed his own band: The Idan Raichel Project. He has worked with many Israeli stars, and even set a poem by the late Shimon Peres to music at his request. He joined India Arie to play for newly elected President Barack Obama and has regularly collaborated with Alicia Keys, who presented him with the 2014 MTV Role Model Award.

He has topped the charts, gone platinum, received an honorary doctorate, and become a fellow of the Israel Museum.

Raichel released a new album in September, and will bring his solo piano show to City Winery on Oct. 14. In advance of his visit, Jewish Chicago conducted an email interview with him.

Q. What role has music played in Israeli life, following October 7?

A. It has become the nation’s soundtrack, not for escape, but for comfort. For me, music became a tool: To play at the bed of a wounded soldier, at soldiers’ funerals and those of terror victims, in barracks and battlefields. I play for 50 or 500, and they sing along. Music becomes food for the soul. People come to concerts-they sing, dance, and find strength-then go back and fight for everything that we love in this country.

What is the role of the musician in times of crisis?

The role of the musician is to be there. [I visited] Nir Oz; one of [every] four people in this kibbutz got murdered or kidnapped. After three hours of silence, we sang “Hinei Ma Tov.” This is the only thing left: To be in silence, hold hands, and comfort each other.

I can sing my heart, sing the stories of others, give form to their tragedies, and share these with the rest of Israel. I can be the messenger to the people around the world-like in old times, a travelling storyteller. Music has this power to fly beyond time and place.

What inspires you to explore the world’s music?

I see myself first and foremost as an Israeli musician. I always love to collect sounds from around the world and to bring them to Israel, [and] then bring this new Israeli music back to the world. I want to go back to the roots of playing piano, to play the simple melodies that touch my heart, my family, my people.

After playing with a full band, what is it like to just have a piano onstage?

It [calls on] me to transform the piano into flutes and guitars. To create a magical world within four walls. But to share my music in [such] an intimate environment, I’m practicing a lot in the living room.

This is the form of music I want to share and explore these days, especially around October 7, to know that we don’t need a lot. We just need to be together, to sing together; there is so much strength and spirituality in these moments.

We feel the love from our community in the diaspora. It’s important to show up and to show the world what strong communities we have around the world. Let’s be together in these essential times-come and show unity.

To learn more about Idan Raichel’s Oct. 14 performances at City Winery Chicago, visit here .