Idan Raichel. Photo. Deby Medrez Pier

Last week, the Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel celebrated their 20th anniversary with an exclusive presentation by The Idan Raichel Project at The Town Hall in Times Square.

It was a foggy night and the auditorium was replete with young radiant faces eagerly awaiting Idan’s presentation. The stage was pitch black and from the vapor emerged a still, thin flute melody along with The Idan Raichel Project; one thin flutist, a number of muscular guitarists, exotic female singers, a man with an afro, two spirited percussionists (one from Brazil) and the one and only Idan Raichel.

The Idan Raichel Project, unlike other musical bodies, is constituted by ever changing talents,  from 91 year old Ethiopian singers to 15 year old feet stompers. Idan, in ten years of performances has never ceased to impress the public with his miscellaneous compositions. Each one of his songs has innumerable layers of meaning.

During the concert the performers on stage sing, scream, dance and jump at different times while Idan sits quietly by his Keyboard  with his eyes closed and a smile on his face. They perform one song after the other, Boee, Im Telech, Mimaamakim, Cada Dia, Frong Faya, Medabrim Besheket, etc, without interruptions, but everyone wants to hear more and more. The crowd breathes the nostalgic fumes of purity that emerge from his body.

Idan and his musicians climb down the steps of the stage and become accessible to their fans. They just want to give and spread the love, as they are proud and honored to represent the Israeli music industry around the world.