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Itai Armon began his musical journey deep within Western music, playing the flute and studying classical music and jazz. But studies alone do not make a musician... The spark went off in the forests of Galilee, near the holy city of Safed. It was there, during a period of intense spiritual study, that Itai was first exposed to the traditional music of Western Asia. The circle was completed when Itai first heard Persian tar playing.
That first tar was played by legendary musician Piris Eliyahu, who quickly became Itai's first teacher in the mysteries of maqam and Asia's ancient music. Mr. Eliyahu was followed by other important teachers, such as Hooshang Farahani and Khorush Ghazavian, both from Iran. The various influences absorbed by Itai during this period, and during his far-reaching travels, include Turkish, Greek, and Arabic music. Upon his return to Israel, Itai made his home in Jerusalem and began playing in several world-music ensembles, as well as founding the Brio Quartet.
Inspired by legendary world-music artist Ross Daly's workshops, Itai began weaving elements from the various musical traditions he studied, creating original musical pieces that reflect the vistas, the traditions, and the people that he saw, absorbed, and met. The first fruit of this original music was the 2016 album "Moments" – a gallery of snapshots from Itai's life and travels to date. The album also served as a basis for live shows, presenting Itai and his ensemble to diverse audiences, from the Jerusalem Arts Festival and the Israeli Sufi Festival, to Bahul Fakiri Mela (India) and Al Andalus en Mexico festival (Mexico).
Itai's second album, "Yaara," came out in 2019. Named after Itai's newly born daughter, it reflected his growth as a person and as a musician, in both the complexity of the compositions and the growing range of musical influences, which now also included Armenian, Greek, and Turkish music. The album also featured some special guests, such as Joseph Zahrur on ney and duduk and Mümin Sesler on qanun, lending further depth and richness to the music.
Throughout the pandemic, and in the midst of personal upheaval, Itai began composing his third album, "Nur," which came out in 2023. It is an album full of yearnings for peace of mind and the wide-open spaces, as well as an echo of the old wanderlust, which is the hallmark of Itai's life since boyhood. Like its predecessors, this album was presented in a tour of live shows, presenting the deep connection between the musicians in the ensemble, the sonic and emotional richness of the ancient music of Western and Central Asia, and the deep ties between humans, nature, and music.
That first tar was played by legendary musician Piris Eliyahu, who quickly became Itai's first teacher in the mysteries of maqam and Asia's ancient music. Mr. Eliyahu was followed by other important teachers, such as Hooshang Farahani and Khorush Ghazavian, both from Iran. The various influences absorbed by Itai during this period, and during his far-reaching travels, include Turkish, Greek, and Arabic music. Upon his return to Israel, Itai made his home in Jerusalem and began playing in several world-music ensembles, as well as founding the Brio Quartet.
Inspired by legendary world-music artist Ross Daly's workshops, Itai began weaving elements from the various musical traditions he studied, creating original musical pieces that reflect the vistas, the traditions, and the people that he saw, absorbed, and met. The first fruit of this original music was the 2016 album "Moments" – a gallery of snapshots from Itai's life and travels to date. The album also served as a basis for live shows, presenting Itai and his ensemble to diverse audiences, from the Jerusalem Arts Festival and the Israeli Sufi Festival, to Bahul Fakiri Mela (India) and Al Andalus en Mexico festival (Mexico).
Itai's second album, "Yaara," came out in 2019. Named after Itai's newly born daughter, it reflected his growth as a person and as a musician, in both the complexity of the compositions and the growing range of musical influences, which now also included Armenian, Greek, and Turkish music. The album also featured some special guests, such as Joseph Zahrur on ney and duduk and Mümin Sesler on qanun, lending further depth and richness to the music.
Throughout the pandemic, and in the midst of personal upheaval, Itai began composing his third album, "Nur," which came out in 2023. It is an album full of yearnings for peace of mind and the wide-open spaces, as well as an echo of the old wanderlust, which is the hallmark of Itai's life since boyhood. Like its predecessors, this album was presented in a tour of live shows, presenting the deep connection between the musicians in the ensemble, the sonic and emotional richness of the ancient music of Western and Central Asia, and the deep ties between humans, nature, and music.
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