Itai Armon
World music Itai Armon travels across diverse soundscapes and cultural traditions. His original compositions combine the ancient music of the Mediterranean and Central Asia with modern arrangements and motifs.
Videos
Journey
SCROLL RIGHT >>The Riders
SCROLL RIGHT >>Neshama Yetera
SCROLL RIGHT >>Mapal
SCROLL RIGHT >>Armenian Dream
SCROLL RIGHT >>Hafla
SCROLL RIGHT >>Dead Sea
SCROLL RIGHT >>Storm
SCROLL RIGHT >>India Tour
SCROLL RIGHT >>Shimshon
SCROLL RIGHT >>Biography
Itai Armon is a musician, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist specializing in the Persian tar.
Itai Armon’s life story is as diverse and eclectic as the music he creates. At first, he started playing the Flute and learning western classical music and jazz. Shortly afterwards, Itai chose living within the forests of the Western Galilee, and was exposed there, for the very first time, to Jewish and Kabbalah studies in Safed. Those studies led him, in fact, to his first encounter with ancient eastern music and the Maqam through the chants and prayers of the synagogue. Herein the seeds for the inseparable bond between the spiritual and musical aspects were planted.
At the end of a whole year of travelling throughout south america, Itai returned to Israel and joined several world music ensembles and music groups, and started learning the secrets of the Persian and Azeri music with the critically acclaimed composer and musicologist Piris Eliyahu, in addition to the art of the Persian Tar – his main instrument to this day.
His spiritual and musical wanderings are a key element of his creative process, and they accompany him all throughout his life: a journey to India for a better understanding of Indian music and culture, as well as musical gatherings in Crete, in which he had expanded his knowledge of eastern, and especially Iranian, Music; travels to Egypt, Greece and Turkey – all of which are the foundations to his inspiration and unique compositions.
Itai Armon’s creation draws from his love for music, and it roots down towards the deep knowing of ancient middle eastern and central asian cultures and their connection with the traditions he gained through his journey. These two aside, the landscapes he witnessed in his life are reflected in the soundscapes he creates, which draw the listener into a vivid, lucid dream of melodies.
Armon accomplishes to paint with exceptional colors, figments of his imagination, and to tell a fascinating, emotional and unique story, needless of a single word. The absence of lyrics provides space and room for emotions that are beyond words, and reveals a pathway for the listeners to connect even deeper to his inner world.
Itai learned the ancient music and the Persian Tar with a number of different masters and teachers, in Israel and throughout the world. To name a few: Piris Eliyahu (Israel), Hooshang Farahani (Iran) and Khorush Ghazavian (Iran).
Itai is performing live, for the past decade, with several groups in Israel and all over the world, and took part of music festivals in India, as well as composing music for art installations, dance and theater.
In early 2016, his released his debut album, “Moments” – an original ethnic music album, and performing with the “Itai armon Ensemble” since. In April 2019, he released and album with the quartet “Brio”, a musical act the combines world music with jazz and progressive rock.
In October 2019 he released his sophomore album called “Yaara” – original ethnic music inspired from the ancient maqams.
Moments
Itai Armon’s debut album Moments features original ethnic music inspired by the diverse cultures, traditions, of the Mediterranean, Central Asia, as well as contemporary music. The unique combination of traditional instruments and modern arrangements creates a refreshing sound that draws the listener into a journey across varied landscapes and cultures to the intersection of ancient and new. Each piece represents a moment from the composer’s life — from living in Safed, the Negev Desert and the Dead Sea, on to journeys in South America, India and the Near East, and back to his home in the hills of Jerusalem. Through Moments, we are all invited along for the trip.
Yaara
Itai Armon’s sophomore album was released in 2019.
The music in “Yaara” is a prayer , a cure, and an attempt to express our inner most places, those who cannot be put into words.
The exclusive blend of traditional eastern mediterranean music alongside western and modern musical instruments combined with up to date arrangements, create unique soundscapes, and lures the audience to
a multi-layered, eclectic and mesmerizing journey, which comes to life through dynamic landscapes.
This album is inspired by observing nature and its beauty and is recorded live, in order to preserve the original vivid spirit of music.
Inspiring Taqasim are carried out throughout the album, and intertwine harmonies to unusual beats and grooves, and vibrant melodies that combine east and west, ancient and modern. The variety of musical instruments added to this album is yet another part of its distinctive sound: The Turkish Cura and Bağlama, the Armenian Duduk, the Arabic Qanun alongside the Clarinet and Piano – all illustrate the musical diversity of the album “Yaara”
Brio
Brio is an instrumental quartet whose original music combines influences from modern Jazz to Middle-Eastern groove, utilizing Western harmonies complimented by captivating melodic lines inspired by the musical cultures of the Far East.
Brio’s music features the Persian tar, flute, piano, electric bass, and drums. The quartet’s exceptional chemistry creates an engaging and uniquely emotive sound.
Brio’s debut album pushes musical boundaries with its eclectic combination of influences that are elegantly woven together, transporting listeners across cultures and exposing them to new melodies and rhythms from around the world.