Chameleon Trio is a rising prominent figure in the field of written and improvised modern music, influenced by modern classical music and free jazz.
The group has very successful concerts with supporting audience and critics as well, Chameleon Trio has just won the first price for the "Israel international competition for original composition" in the field of written and improvised music.
The original and unique "In Between" project by the "Chameleon Trio" brings the listener to surprising and unexpected places.
The program is very diverse; it`s filled with humor, anger, sadness, laughter, depression, melancholy and then laughter again.
The music was composed by Dvir Katz and is inspired by a variety of styles, from the modern classical music through the avant-garde jazz and rock.
Alongside with the strictly written compositions, an integral part of the music is free improvisation; this way each one of the musicians contributes his/her own individual and unique perception to the piece.
The composition and the improvisation are inspired from a wide scale of styles from the early 20th century composers to contemporary music figures, among those- Edgar Varez, Thelonious Monk, Béla Bartók, Ornette Coleman, Louis Sclavis, Sergey Prokofiev, "King Crimson", Gyorgy Ligeti, Eric Dolphy, Paco de Lucia, Frank Zappa, Vyacheslav Ganelin and many other composers and musicians.
The composer`s (Dvir Katz`s) individual nature combined with those varied influences led to the unique style of writing; and together with the wonderful interpretation and improvisation of the musicians gave birth to the special sound of "Chameleon Trio".
quotes and reviews
• "…In Between leans more towards the new music pole, but offers many adventurous and enjoyable improvised passages .Katz is a very talented storyteller who knows how to assemble drama, humor, sorrow, joy and optimism into thoughtful compositions. His work is well structured, but offers plenty of personal space to all three musicians…"
Eyal Hareuveny "All About Jazz"
• "…How much the Third Stream composers are insane? This is a question that would be asked in a wider historical perspective, but there are few answers we already get, while listening to the first and the excellent album of the Chameleon Trio- "In Between"…"
Asher Kesher- "Kol Hazman" (Jerusalem)
• "…He has that rare flute sound that is both hip and excellent, classical in tone and nuance…"
Bob Rusch (the editor of Cadence magazine) about Dvir's flute playing with the "Chameleon Trio"
• "...the initiation of the "Swedish Chef" club at it`s new residence at the "Jerusalem Cinemateque" was a brilliant success; the "Chameleon Trio" concert was exciting both conceptually and musically and the Cinemateque auditorium was full with supportive audience..."
Asher Kesher- "Kol Hazman" (Jerusalem)
• "…the climax of "Ficta"'s show was Dvir's flute solo that hypnotized me completely it joined to the piece that ended the show…"
Arik Hayat - ("Sympozion").
• Ora Boasson is in the top, the ears could rest and enjoy the exact and breathless overwhelming playing that brings to excitement when it should have…"
Noam Ben Zeev – "Haaretz" news paper.
• …This album is neither an alibi nor a report. It's an art of music presented to the listener by Chameleon Trio… Fiery enthusiasm with original ideas and fresh interpretations make the music live and breathtaking…"Why?" seems to be the most popular question according to Rudyard Kipling. Here various music genres from classical music and blues to modern merging of jazz and classical music and free improvisation are presented. This question, musically proposed by Katz, Boasson-Horev and Levi, can be embodied by the listener according to his own confluence with the music… "
Michael Feldman (http://www.sabresradio.co.il/)
The musicians
Dvir Katz
Dvir Katz is a graduate of the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, where he studied flute with Mr. Roman Kunsman and composition with Mr. Vyacheslav Ganelin. He is the founder of "Chameleon Trio", which performs his original compositions, influenced by modern classical music and free jazz.
Alongside with performing original material, he is a member of various music groups, among others are Julia Feldman Ensemble, "Musica Ficta" (which performs original progressive rock by Ehud Horev), "Gernica" - flamenco/world music compositions by Ido Bar-Zakay and more.
Dvir Katz plays regularly with prominent figures in the field of improvised music in Israel and he has performed in the "White Night International Jazz Festival", Shuni Jazz Festival, the Israel Festival at the Jerusalem Theater, the Abu Gosh International Festival, Beresheet World Music Festival and many other events and festivals.
Dvir`s composition is inspired from a wide scale of styles from the early 20th century composers to contemporary music figures, among those- Edgar Varez, Thelonious Monk, Béla Bartók, Ornette Coleman, Louis Sclavis, Sergey Prokofiev, "King Crimson", Gyorgy Ligeti, Eric Dolphy, Paco de Lucia, Frank Zappa, Vyacheslav Ganelin and many other composers and musicians. His individual nature combined with those varied influences led to his unique style of playing and composition and to the creation of the "Chameleon Trio".
Ora Boasson-Horev
Ora Boasson-Horev is a “third stream” double bass player; her individual sound combines contemporary classical music together with free improvisation. Ora Boasson-Horev is a graduate of the New England Conservatory in Boston where she studied Double Bass with Mr. Donald Palma. Among her teachers are also Mr. Michael Klinghoffer and Mr. Gary Karr.
Between 2000-2001 she was the first bass player of the Israel Camerata Orchestra and besides her work with the "Chameleon Trio" she plays in Baroque, classical, contemporary, Jazz and ethnic ensembles; to name a few- the Yedid Ensemble (performing original compositions of the pianist and composer Yitzhak Yedid; with this project she had recorded four successful albums for the German label "Between the Lines"), "Julia Feldman Ensemble" (that performs original compositions by the vocalist and composer Julia Feldman; the trio had recorded it`s debut album this year), "Absinth" music group (performing Israeli art songs), Kaprisma ensemble (performing contemporary classical music) and various Baroque ensembles.
Ora Boasson-Horev has participated in festivals around the world, such as the Vancouver Jazz Festival and Guelph Jazz Festival, Canada; Israel Festival in Jerusalem and Jazz, Blues and Videotape Festival in Tel Aviv, Israel; Weinner Musik Gallery Festivals of 2002-2004 in Vienna, Austria; Sibiu Jazz Festival, Romania and more. Ora Boasson-Horev is also an educator, teaching double bass at the Petach-Tikwa and Kefar- Saba conservatories.
Nitai Levi
Nitai Levi was born in Jerusalem and started playing the clarinet at the age of 7 under the instruction of Geula Levyim.
He is a graduate of the Rubin Music Conservatory where he studied classical music, playing both classical and jazz styles.
Nitai has performed in the Red Sea International Jazz Festival, the Shuni Jazz Festival, the Israel Festival, Vilnius Jazz Festival and many Israeli clubs and music venues.
Besides his participation in the "Chameleon Trio" Nitai is a very active musician that plays in many ensembles and projects, such as the Yellow Submarine Ensemble (with which he had recorded an album), Ensemble 105 jazz group and other jazz and classical music projects.
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