Stilistisch lässt sich die Musik des Hagiga Sextett am besten als genreübergreifend beschreiben. Von treibenden Swingakkorden über arabisch beinflusste Melodien bis hin zu Funk und Latingrooves. Dessen ungeachtet hat das Hagiga Ensemble ihren eigenen Sound über die Jahre entwickelt. Die unterschiedlichen Persönlichkeiten jedes einzelnen Musikers verbinden sich zum Hagiga-Sound, der keinen Vergleich findet. Die Mitglieder der Band benutzen ihre eigenen, mediterran beeinflussten Kompositionen als Grundlage, um eine neue, explosive Athmosphäre zu produzieren, die insbesondere live auf der Bühne überzeugt.
„New Directions“ ist das Produkt eines langen, kreativen Prozesses, der 2009 begann und dem Album „Optimistic View“ (Fresh Sound) folgt. Der Name des neuen Albums ist Programm: Neue Wege betritt das Hagiga Sextett durch Verwendung unterschiedlicher Rhythmen, Harmonien und melodischer Struktur. Die „New Directions Suite“ repräsentiert und fasst diesen Ansatz in voneinander unabhängigen, aber aneinandergereihten Stücken zusammen. Melodie und Harmonie sind einer Skala von 9 Noten und einem Dreiklang System unterworfen. Maßgeblich beeinflusst von Booker Little Kompositionen aus den 1960er Jahren sowie dem Soundvorbild der „Jazz Messengers“ sowie Kompositionen von Künstlern unserer Gegenwart wie Dave Douglas und Brad Mehldau.
Einer der wichtigsten Entscheidungen, die Hagiga für ihren spezifischen Sound traf, ist die Verbindung von Sopran- und Altsaxophon mit dem hier ausgeprägten, spirituellen Klang einer Posaune, die dieses Album prägt. Die Harmonieverbindungen sind oft das Resultat der geradlinigen Kompositionen und nicht tradiert durch gängige Akkordfolgen. Entscheidend war die kreative, interessante Wendung. „New Directions“ nimmt die Zuhörer mit auf eine Reise in unerforschte Gebiete.
Internationale Pressestimmen:
Here is what Eli Degibri wrote about Hagiga"s third CD, dated February 2017
"New Directions is a well-crafted CD led by Saxophonist Alon Farber and drummer Dani Benedikt whose writing is original and smart, balanced and most importantly, thoughtfully aware of each one of the individual band members. Taking their time, the band captivates the listener through a deliberate, interesting and wondrous journey."
A review by Yair Spiegel on his blog "The Sideman" dated from December 20, 2016
"No wonder that Hagiga exists for such a long time. The music is original, fascinating, arranged and orchestrated on the highest level. The music is inspired by Israeli and Middle Eastern genres, but the general sound is very unique, contemporary, kicking and not flattering to the Israeli ear" The Hagiga Sextet is a rare occasion the Israeli Jazz scene, a music formation that is active for more than 16 years. I admit that the name of the group created a certain concern what a ran into it, since the connection between "celebration" (the English translation to Hagiga) to music creates generally a meaningful musical value which is light weighted, but that was not the case, to my relief. From listening to "Hagiga" I saw that it is an ensemble built on three horns in front and rhythm section. The original music that group performs corresponds nicely with the type of bands from the "classical" era of jazz (Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Charles Mingus). Nevertheless the sound and the sense of connection to where the group is active (Israel) is present and reflects our time. My feeling from listening to the latest studio recording of the group is that there is a wide array of musical colors , sensations and emotions poured in an artist hand into the music the group presents, thanks to the sensitive and well knowledgeable work of the group's leaders- Alon Farber and Dani Benedikt, together with a team of excellent players. I recommend strongly to come and be part of the musical vision of Hagiga."
Older reviews:
"Looks like "hagiga" is Hebrew for "celebration" -- dumb luck that I figured that out. This is an upbeat, postbop Israeli group, with two saxophones (Farber on soprano and alto, Hagai Amir on alto), guitar, bass and drums, with New York-based Israeli trumpeter Avishai Cohen guesting on three cuts. They state the music is inspired by Wayne Shorter and Dave Douglas, which sounds close enough, although I'll also note that one song is called "A Chat With Ornette." Complex and fluid, a rich feel, lots of movement. Cohen certainly earns his featured slot. B+(**)"
-Tom Hull ?www.tomhull.com
"This Tel Aviv-based group influences include Wayne Shorter and Dave Douglas while attempting to display their own style with brassy horns, a meaty rhythm section, and subtle hints of their Middle Eastern heritage. Like a musical chameleon the group changes their persona to fit many musical styles. Illusions Swamp is imbued with a psychedelic guitar vibrato and free jazz horns. Monkeys has a funky backbeat and A Chat with Ornette, dedicated to the free jazz icon Ornette Coleman, is filled with sweet sax solos and a swinging tempo; while the song that most exemplifies their homeland is Mi ze Itzik? which combines both traditional jazz and Jewish music. Though the recording suffers from a lack of a singular identity these musicians are quite talented."
-Mark F. Turner ?/ All About Jazz
