Notes from Cantor Avima

      David Broza is truly a "world musician". Born in Israel, he grew up in England and Spain. His style of guitar playing is obviously heavily influenced by Spanish and Flamenco guitar. In fact, he has recorded several Spanish albums including an album of instrumental guitar music and he described t how difficult it was for him to write and perform music that did not include words. He said he worked on his guitar playing for 3 years. 

     You may remember his very well known song from the 1970's, "Yihiye Tov/It Will be OK" written by Yonatan Gefen and set to music and performed by a very young David Broza. It is a very optimistic song written after the visit to Israel by Anwar Sadat. Here is the original recording: Yihiye Tov/It will be OK and here it is in a later performance with subtitles: YIhiye Tov with subtitles.

     In a blog, Michael Kohler who is on the Long Island Board of the American Jewish Committee writes about the song and reflects on how when he first heard the song in his youth, he never imagined that someday his own son would volunteer to become a lone soldier. He writes about Omer Neutra, the son of his good friends, who was taken hostage on Oct. 7. David Broza dedicated one of his many performances of the song to Omer when he performed at the kibbutz where Omer lived in the beginning of his army service. Here is that performance: Yihiye Tov dedicated to Omer Neutra

     Another very well known song of David Broza's is "Shir Ahava Bedouit/Bedouin Love Song" Here is the original recording: Shir Ahava Bedouit/Bedouin Love Song. I also found this amazing recording showing how the mastery of his guitar playing has evolved. Shir Ahava Bedouit/Bedouin Love Song. 

     David Broza has done many very interesting projects including the Spanish recordings mentioned at the beginning of this article and, in 2013 he brought together Israeli and Palestinian musicians in a collaboration that resulted in 14 songs and a film called East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem. Here is one song: East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem.

     Another recent, interesting project was a commission by Temple Emanuel in NYC to write a Kabbalat Shabbat service. Here is a video about the project which incorporated 14 prayers written by Broza, arranged by Omer Avital and orchestrated for piano, strings, horn, drums and two choirs including a choir in Israel. David Broza Tefila.