Event Information

Gilad Atzmon, World Leading Jazz Saxophonist and Israel-Born Author of The Wandering Who, A Study of Jewish Identity Politics Plays and Reads At David’s Bookshop

Monday 24 October 2011
7:30 pm

Former member of the Blockheads Gilad Atmon has played with musical superstars from Ian Dury to Robbie Williams.  He was BBC jazz album winner in 2003. Gilad Atzmon is coming to David’s to play his saxophone and talk about controversial new book, The Wandering Who. Jewish identity is tied up with some of the most difficult and contentious issues of today. The purpose in this book is to open many of these issues up for discussion.

Since Israel defines itself openly as the ‘Jewish State’, we should ask what the notions of ’Judaism’, ‘Jewishness’, ‘Jewish culture’ and ‘Jewish ideology’ stand for. Gilad examines the tribal aspects embedded in Jewish secular discourse, both Zionist and anti Zionist; the ‘holocaust religion’; the meaning of ‘history’ and ‘time’ within the Jewish political discourse; the anti-Gentile ideologies entangled within different forms of secular Jewish political discourse and even within the Jewish left. He questions what it is that leads Diaspora Jews to identify themselves with Israel and affiliate with its politics. The devastating state of our world affairs raises an immediate demand for a conceptual shift in our intellectual and philosophical attitude towards politics, identity politics and history.

About the Author: Gilad Atzmon was born in Israel in 1963 and had his musical training at the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem (Composition and Jazz). As a multi-instrumentalist he plays Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxes, Clarinet and Flutes. His album Exile was the BBC jazz album of the year in 2003. He has been described by John Lewis on the Guardian as the “hardest-gigging man in British jazz". His albums, of which he has recorded nine to date, often explore political themes and the music of the Middle East.  Also, being a prolific writer, Atzmon's essays are widely published. His novels 'Guide to the perplexed' and 'My One And Only Love' have been translated into 24 languages.

David’s Bookshop is located on Eastcheap in Letchworth (SG6 3DE) Entry is £4, but is redeemable against the book.  Please call the bookshop on 01462 684631 to reserve a space.  For more information or to arrange an interview with Gilad Atzon, please contact Sally Hewitt on 01462 768 234  (please don’t publish this number) saras.perkins@virgin.net or Paul Wallace on 01462 684631 paul@davids-bookshops.co.uk.