We recently connected with Ori Menache and have shared our conversation below.

Ori, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

As an artist, I want to create art that is meaningful to me. The thing that drives me to make art is my faith that what I express through my art is relevant to my life and to the lives of others, and, by that, I hope it could create a positive change in the world. I believe, as human beings, we have the power to change reality by changing our consciousness. My upcoming show is going to be at Cafe Ornithology – one of the most important jazz clubs in NYC, based in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The show is going to be a part of the Earth Week events in Ornithology, a series of lectures and workshops about climate/ecology that are followed by a show led by up-and-coming talent of the NYC Jazz scene. For me, this is a dream come true. In the last few years, I realized music is just one part of the puzzle – there are more important things in our world that require my attention. I have always wanted to be a musician, but as I grew up, I realized I wanted to help and contribute to the environment as well. I thought playing my music in climate events would be the best thing I could do: utilize my talent in a way that changes the world. Now, for the first time in my life, this opportunity has come, and I’m looking forward to it! The show is going to take place at Cafe Ornithology on April 14 from 1:30-2:30 pm. I’m going to share the stage with my fellow musicians: Noam Avnon on piano, Charlie Lincoln on double bass, and Angus Mason on drums.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Ori Menache and I’m a saxophonist, flutist, and composer. I was first introduced to the saxophone when I was ten, and when I was fifteen, I studied jazz at the Israeli Conservatory of Music in Tel Aviv. This was a huge stepping stone in my career because I got to learn from the best jazz musicians in Israel and they could hear me, too. Being in Tel Aviv opened up the opportunity for me to play, multiple times, in Israel’s best jazz clubs: Beit Ha’amudim, Shablul Jazz Club, and Levontin 7. I also had the opportunity to play in the Red Sea Jazz Festival with both my band and the Eyal Vilner Big Band. In 2019, I started my Bachelor’s degree at Berklee College of Music, and I found myself studying with my saxophone heroes, such as George Garzone and Godwin Louis. As a musician and an improviser, I’m trying to play and write things that excite me – sound, rhythm, interesting harmonic progressions, shapes. To me, combining all of these elements at the same time is what makes the music more than just music. It triggers the intellect and messes with the senses. I also try to think of myself as a painter when I make music – the idea that every tune is a blank canvas and I, the painter, have the power to create a unique piece of art using the palette of colors to fill the void. I would say the music I’m doing is moving between jazz and contemporary jazz, and, in addition, I started to create music as a singer-songwriter, writing songs in Hebrew (my first language). This music of mine is influenced by indie-pop and Israeli singer-songwriters. I’m looking forward to my future gigs and opportunities in NYC and all over the globe.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think in general we are surrendering to comfort – we are being too lazy. People consume music through music streaming services, but the artist isn’t getting enough out of it because we can pay a few bucks and have access to any song in the world. While it is very cool technology and a good advertising platform for artists, it contributes to this 21st-century problem of not having to get out of our houses to experience the world around us. Everything is being brought to us: food, movies, music, video games, etc. I think we should begin to be more aware of what is going on and not give in to those temptations that can take us over. Go out, go to a live concert, go to a museum, go to the park – get out of your comfort zone! That’s what we need as a society – not social media, but a real social interaction. Also, in the media we consume maybe 10 seconds of music every reel… that’s weird to me. That’s not art, that’s a tool to pass the time very quickly and push our feelings aside. I think if we could just take our screens away it would be such a good start. It would help us create solutions from within ourselves instead of trying to solve our problems with an app.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

In general, I’m trying to be the best human being I can be. I’m trying to tune myself into a frequency that can help my environment change in a good way. Creativity can come in so many ways if you just let it come. I believe the state of mind and energy one has reflects onto other people. I’m trying to have a positive mindset, which I believe is impacting my music. Since music is my gift, I believe it could be my best way to impact other people. Stevie Wonder does it, Herbie Hancock does it, and Wayne Shorter did it. Wayne once said, “You should think about playing music that indicates to what do you wish the world to be like”. I’m trying to take this sentence and implement it in my way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ori_menache/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000596073385
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ori-menashe-40255225b/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI38WI4mCZY

Image Credits
All of the images was taken by Rhiannon Mueller