The powerful sweetness of Asaf Avidan at Montreux

Israeli singer-songwriter Asaf Avidan swept his audience away at his concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 14: an unpretentious, yet highly embodied presence, for a mesmerizing concert.

Asaf Avidan's performance in the Auditorium Stravinski on Thursday, July 14 was a movingly calm affair. The singer and musician exudes a kind of poetry, performing his songs with great emotion. Some of his songs, in particular, are about love. His concentration is accompanied by the gentle melodies played by the three musicians on stage with him. And this ensemble forms a visual balance that accompanies the auditory balance: nothing is missing, nothing is too much. We are carried away.

Authentic, hypnotic candor

Yes, it's hard not to be taken in by the spontaneity and humanity of the tracks: sometimes accompanied by a guitar, other times by a grand piano, other times by a harmonica and other times just by the rest of the band, Asaf Avidan doesn't skimp on detail. The guitarist even plays guitar with a bow on one track. These particularities invite us to follow the artist for the duration of the concert. He even manages to hypnotize us with his movements, in total phase with the ambient energy.

The audience seems to have agreed on one thing: to follow the waves of the music. Stunned, the crowd sways to the rhythm of the sound. This seems to move the singer-songwriter, who repeatedly lets smiles appear on his face, tense with concentration, as the audience responds to him. He interacts with them, making them laugh and relax. When the show pauses for a retune, the crowd marvels at the musician's genuine candor.

It's impossible not to mention the Israeli artist's voice. Even for those of us who listen to his songs over and over again, our skins are tingling throughout the evening. A husky, high-pitched voice that tells stories from track to track. It works in harmony with the instruments or other voices, but at the same time stands on its own. She also takes a back seat to the music and even the backing vocals. The power of his own voice even seems to take Asaf Avidan into a state of bewilderment. He returns to terra firma with great modesty, confessing his thanks at the end of the concert. A rare humility.

Write to the author: erica.berazategui@leregardlibre.com

Header image: French rapper Lala &ce at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 13, 2022 © Marc Ducrest

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