(ARTS) Israeli Band "Marsh Dondurma" Makes Its Mark

"What’s in a name?

If you’re looking for a snappy name for a new group, something people will latch onto easily, then Marsh Dondurma plainly leaves something to be desired. Drummer and leader of the 15-piece Jerusalem brass band Dotan Yogev admits, with hindsight, to having some misgivings about that. 'I suppose if I’d thought the band was going to last so long – we’ve been together for five and a half years now – I might have come up with a shorter name.'

Titular protraction notwithstanding the merry Marsh Dondurma troupe will play at this year’s Red Sea Jazz Festival in Eilat which, Yogev says, is quite a feather in its hat – not that the band hasn’t already graced some major venues. 'We played at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2007. When I got the call that we’d been booked for the festival I almost fainted. You know, you come out of your hotel room in Montreal and you meet all those idols of yours, musicians whose CDs you’ve listened to dozens of times at home, and you’re playing at the same festival as them. That was truly amazing. But, somehow, playing at the Red Sea Jazz Festival – our festival – is really special. Over the years I’ve seen the cream of our jazz and other musicians play there, and now it’s our turn to appear there.'"