TORONTO — Berry Sakharof, left, has been in the music industry for 25 years. As an Israeli rock artist, he founded the band Minimal Compact, collaborated with bands like Infected Mushroom, has more than 30 albums out and has toured around the world. (video)
And, for the first time in his rock career, he’ll be coming to Canada.
“He’s the legend of Israeli culture,” said Ravid Dahan, owner of Motek Productions, an event-planning organization that brings Israeli artists to Canada. “All of the famous and successful artists in Israel are connected somehow to him.”
Motek Productions, which plans some four concerts a year, tries to expose Canadian-born Jews to Israeli culture through different artists.
“The idea was to bring the top 10 [Israeli musicians], Berry’s one of the top 10. He’s never performed in Canada,” Dahan said, adding that music is a good way to connect Canadians to Israel.
“It’s really important to bring Israeli culture to North America, to be connected to Israel. It’s not only being connected by donating money, it’s to feel the country [through its music]. It’s about what’s going on in Israel,” she said.
Sakharof, who was born in Turkey and immigrated to Israel as a child, started his rock career at 16, in the band Cosmic Dream. Along with friend and fellow musician Rami Fortis, Sakharof played in Israeli rock clubs.
After serving in the Israeli army, he moved to Brussels from 1980 to 1988. While living in Europe, Sakharof formed Minimal Compact, the first Israeli rock band to become successful outside of Israel.
“It’s a totally different scene in Europe than in Israel. Professionally, I learned a lot,” said Sakharof in a phone interview from Israel. “It was mainly learning. Israel is very small… I was very young at the time, before I went to Europe, I was more into Led Zeppelin, conservative rock. I think that I just learned how to develop more my own style.”
His style includes Oriental melodies and a mixture of rock, electronic and dance music. His latest album, called Ibn Gabirol: Adumei Hasfatot, includes lyrics taken from the poetry of Solomon Ibn Gabirol, an 11th-century Jewish philosopher. The album incorporates older, traditional Jewish music.
“The last album I did, I met some people that are doing this kind of music… old music that [was passed] from father to son over the years in the Jewish community,” he said.
“I really loved it… there were really nice texts, really nice construction with words. It opened to different kinds of music. Some of the things I did [on the album] was very old music… I always liked the rock and roll with a little bit of Oriental flavour.”
At his Toronto concert, Sakharof will be singing songs from his older albums, as well as his latest. While the musician has toured in Europe, Asia and the United States, he’s yet to play in Canada.
“I don’t really know [why],” he said, adding that he was supposed to play in Toronto in the past, but the details never worked out.
“I’m really waiting for [the Toronto concert],” he said.
Sakharof performs on April 20 at On The Rox Live, 1600 Steeles Ave. W. For tickets and information, visit www.motekproductions.com or call 647-899-0071.
