On their latest 45, Sababa 5 take their feet off the accelerator just a little to slide into the most infectious pair of grooves this side of the Mediterranean.
On “Rosenzweig”, the four-piece blend their Turkish psych-influenced style with a Jimmy Smith jazz groove. Eitan Drabkin’s organ leads the motif, before stepping back to support the rhythmic charge of Raz Man’s tight drumming, whilst guitarist Ilan Smilan solos like Grant Green on a Middle Eastern odyssey. “Smilansky” slows proceedings further still, really allowing Drabkin and Smilan’s brilliant musicianship to shine over the airtight rhythm section of Raz Man and bassist Amir Sadot.
This deadly double-sided 45 follows 2021’s electric “Pur / Baksheesh” single, as championed by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Cerys Mathews and Gideon Coe. Practically a supergroup, the band earned their chops with the likes of the Hoodna Orchestra, Tigris, and Kutiman Orchestra. Between them, and have recorded with leading vocalists such as Gili Yalo, Ester Rada, and Liraz Charhi.
Another essential pair of instrumental grooves from Sababa 5 and Batov Records, perfect for the beginning or end of the night
