Mentored by Gregoire Maret, championed by Avishai Cohen, taught by Ben Street and on tour with Edmar Castañeda, Yotam is no stranger to the big stage. Since graduating from The New School on a full scholarship in 2016, he’s performed at top venues like Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Blue Note in New York, and built a reputation in Europe as one of the most exciting new talents in the genre.

From haunting melodies inspired by the music of Israel and Argentina to the complex rhythms shaped by his exposure to Cuban and Venezuelan music, Impermanence charts Ben-Or’s evolution from a young virtuoso to a maturing master, embracing the beauty of uncertainty.

“I called it ‘Impermanence’ because, unlike my previous albums, I strived for acceptance rather than perfection. Instead of controlling everything and reworking it in the studio, I was interested in the flow between us musicians and the songs.”

Raised in Nataf, a small village in the Jerusalem area, an early encounter with a harmonica sparked a lifelong love affair with not just the instrument, but music of all colours. We hear it in the rich array of influences from around the globe: deep American jazz tradition, as you’d expect; the European sound, with its Mediterranean influences; and also flavours of South and Central America, where Ben-Or has travelled frequently to study with local masters.

At the heart of Impermanence is his core quartet, which sees Ben-Or joined by long-time collaborators Gabriel Chakarji (piano), Alon Near (bass) and Alon Benjamini (drums). Their seamless interplay and deep musical connection form not just the foundation of the album, but a platform for special guests. Lars Danielsson, the celebrated Swedish cellist, adds a haunting and expressive quality to “Ballad for Daniel,” while Esther Quansah, Yotam’s partner, lends warm and tender vocals to the final song of the 10-track album..

At a time when there seems to be jazz talent spilling over from every corner of the globe, it’s perhaps notable the industry support Yotam has achieved already. The album track ‘René’ is dedicated to veteran manager René Hess (known for his work with the likes of Lars Danielsson, Jan Lundgren and other big-name Europeans) who felt compelled to sign the youngster. 

“His concert in St Moritz was a total revelation for me: I was knocked out by this young musician, not even in his 30s, with his incredible stage presence and unbelievable control of his tiny instrument. Thanks to the Gods of jazz for letting me discover this fine artist.”

It’s a sentiment offered by fans alike. From Toots Thielemans to Howard Levy to Gregoire Maret, the lineage of jazz harmonica is a select and exclusive group and, with Impermanence, Yotam Ben-Or stakes his claim for a permanent invitation to the top table.