34 June 20 • 2019
jn

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A

dam Ben Ezra could be called a 
one-man jazz band. 
Although his main instru-
ment is the double bass, he also reverts 
to piano, clarinet, flute, harmonica and 
synth. And he commissioned a five-
string bass with a removable neck.
Going beyond improvising with 
others’
 music, he improvises with his 
original numbers.
“My show is a solo act,
” says the 
Israeli-based entertainer, making his 
debut appearance 5-7 p.m. Sunday, 
June 23, at Cliff Bell’
s in Detroit. “I 
move around the instruments, play 
and sing. I use all kinds of effects and 
different techniques on the bass so it 
can sound like drums and even electric 
guitar.
“In Detroit, I’
m going to play songs 
from my two previous albums (“Can’
t 
Stop Running” and “Pin Drop”) and 
new songs from my 
upcoming album. The 
music is very influenced 
by styles from all over 
— rock, Latin, flamen-
co, Middle Eastern and 
many more. My show is 
sort of a journey around 
the globe.
”
Ben Ezra, who says 
his music on YouTube 
has had millions of hits, 
started playing the vio-
lin at 5, switched to guitar with com-
posing at 9 and moved through other 
instruments to find his double bass 
calling while still in his teens. 
He was fascinated by the bass’
 role 
in connecting melody, harmony and 
rhythm. 
“I knew I wanted to become a 
musician, and my dream was to be a 
singer-songwriter,
” says Ben Ezra, 36, 

who is self-taught on instruments. 
“This path has changed. I started to 
focus more on instrumental music, 
but in the last couple of years, I found 
the way to combine my singing, so, in 
a way, my early childhood dream has 
come true.
“I started to play professionally when 
I was 20, first in jazz cafes and clubs 
in Tel Aviv and later as a side man for 
many singers in Israel. At 27, I started 
to perform solo and upload videos to 
YouTube, which pushed my career. 
Today, I tour all over the world, and 
I’
m really grateful for that.
”
Ben Ezra’
s composing starts with 
improvisation as he looks for a spark 
of a musical idea. It can be a groove, 
melody or chord progression that feels 
powerful and memorable. He works at 
developing that to tell a coherent story 
using structures found in pop songs.
“My upcoming album 
brings jazz, world music 
and lots of groove,
” he 
says. “The texture is a 
mix of acoustic and elec-
tronic sounds delivered 
in a very communicative 
and emotional way. The 
thing that attracts me 
most in jazz is the free-
dom to tell a story with 
music and improvise it 
on the spot.
”
Ben Ezra, married and with an 
infant son, participated in Arts 
Midwest, a program that tours musical 
acts from different cultures to towns 
around the world. 
Although that project brought him 
to Michigan, Detroit was not a destina-
tion. Now planning for Motown, he is 
aiming for a “great musical celebration 
with lots of fun.
” ■

music
arts&life

One-Man Band

Israeli jazz artist fi
 nds his rhythm.

EVA SUTTER

Details
Adam Ben Ezra will 
perform 5-7 p.m. 
Sunday, June 23, at Cliff 
Bell’
s, 2030 Park Ave., 
Detroit. $10. (313) 961-
2543. cliffbells.com.

TOP: Adam Ben Ezra in action on 

the double bass.

Contact Larry Al
l
an
 

 

 can’
t enj
oy j
ewel
ry i
f i
t’
s si
tti
ng i
n your safe 
deposi
t box.
 Sel
l
 or borrow on i
t for i
mmedi
ate cash.
 
We deal
 i
n j
ewel
ry,
 watches,
 di
amonds and coi
ns.

A Service to
Private Owners,
Banks & Estates

248-644-8565

Coins & Jewelry

Fox Run
offers senior 
living with 
STYLE

Call 1-800-917-8169 
for your free brochure.

13433922

Fox Run offers more than just senior living—we offer 
stylish living! Choose from dozens of spacious fl
 oor plans 
designed to fi
 t your taste and budget. Every residence 
includes elegant fi
 xtures and fi
 nishes, plus open and airy 
layouts. Best of all, each apartment home is free from 
standard maintenance. Spend less time worrying about 
repairs and more time enjoying the things you love to do!

Novi

FoxRunNovi.com

MOE BERG PLAYED FOR FIVE TEAMS. HE SPIED FOR ONE COUNTRY.

“One of the BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR and one of the great documentaries of recent years.”
–Jeffrey Lyons, LYONS DEN RADIO

STARTS FRIDAY, JUNE 21

SPYBEHINDHOMEPLATE.ORG
MOEBERGFILM

From the director of The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg

AN AVIVA KEMPNER FILM

THE SPY BEHIND

HOME PLATE

Q&As with director AVIVA KEMPNER at The Maple Theater Friday, June 21 after the 3:15pm and 6:00pm shows and on 
Saturday, June 22 after the 12:00pm show and in Ann Arbor at the Michigan Theater on Saturday, June 22 after the 7:00pm show.

A CIESLA FOUNDATION Release

BLOOMFIELD 
THE MAPLE THEATER
4135 W Maple Rd (248) 750-1030

ANN ARBOR
MICHIGAN THEATER
603 E Liberty St (734) 668-TIME