After the country recovered from its founding, dance clubs began to flourish. Perfectly timed for me, I caught my father in a high mood and asked permission to try playing his saxophone a little. His positive response sealed my musical fate. The next day I tried, and within days I was playing the best hits with great confidence.
Cracks began to appear in my diligent playing of the violin and without feeling the weight transferred to the saxophone. I practiced according to the notes that were at home, which I mastered, and in a short time I improved my level of playing on the saxophone immeasurably. If my father had known that the days of the violin were numbered, he would have thrown the saxophone and drowned it in the river. Until about a year later, when my parents were walking on Herzl Street in Haifa, they met Mr. Zvi Rotenberg, the teacher
Mine for the violin.
For a sentence he said to them, my father never forgave me until the day he died. 'Ilan's cessation of playing the violin is a great loss to the world of music.' So, in my opinion, my parents greatly exaggerated. The alto saxophone, model "Star", is made by a Czech company that specialized in building metal wind instruments of the highest standard. The metal from which the instrument was built was melted down before the shortage during World War II. All the materials were of a level and quality that is difficult to reproduce. My father bought the saxophone before he came to Israel. Many years have passed since then and this saxophone played with all the original springs. Its nickel plating looks as if it had just left the factory gates.
A clear, bright day. I stood in the middle of the room and played exercises and scales. My acquaintance with the instrument was deepening. I took a short break from practicing and entertained myself with some tunes from the period. "Tequila" and "La Macarona" are two famous tunes whose original performance was on the saxophone. While I was enjoying myself and getting ready to return
For the rigid format of the exercises, Michel Edri, a drummer from Acre, moved down the street.
We stood, listened, and went to the building, knocked on the neighbors' doors, looking for the mysterious player. The neighbors already knew our musical house and directed it to the fifth floor, to us. In the early 33s, XNUMX-inch vinyl records were just starting to appear, so getting to know the songs of the period was no easy task.
The doorbell rang, my mother opened it and I heard her talking to someone. Within seconds, there was a knock on the door and Michel was standing in front of me, amazed to see a sixteen-year-old boy. He was expecting a slightly older player. I explained to Michel that the instrument I play is the violin and the saxophone is just a hobby that has only been around for a few months. Michel smiled understandingly and asked if I was free on Friday.
A big party is being held at Solel-Bona's house and he is willing to pay me fifteen liras if I am willing to come to the ball and play a few pieces with the orchestra. In the remaining days I have increased the tempo of the playing and prepared additional songs. I am filled with excitement. This is my first performance with the saxophone and for a high and tempting salary. I arrived at the appointed time. Michel's orchestra is already settling in and has begun to play. The hall is full of an audience consisting mostly of Moroccans. Beautiful girls. All dressed according to fashion and, most importantly, ballroom dancers with grace. At one point Michel called me to join the orchestra. I began to play. In the first seconds there was silence and then everyone was on the dance floor. I finished my part to the applause of the audience, who received me with great love. From that evening, a period of playing at various parties and events began for me together with the "Flamenco Band", the band we had formed.
A few years after that event, Michelle's sister became famous throughout the country as a singer. She was at the top for a while before disappearing from the spotlight. Her name was Gila Hadari and her song "The First Kiss" was a hit for a long time. Ilan Novakovich composed the song and was the musical arranger of the show in 1965-6. Also
Kobi Oshrat was a partner as a player in the orchestra. Gila passed away at the age of sixty-five. May her memory be blessed.
I purchased a new three-speed turntable and installed it in my room. My roommate, my sister Rachel, received a stern warning not to try to access the device without my permission. It's hard to say that my sister was afraid of me, even though more than once, disobeying my instructions resulted in violent punishment that ended in crying and screaming on her part.
Records in Haifa. The first record I purchased in 1956 for 16.90 liras was by the band "The Vikings". It was the first of over six thousand records and CDs that came later. The Vikings are a great vocal "do-up" band consisting of talented crews from the Marines, who were preparing for some party and rehearsing.
For a singing show. The success was great. The band stayed and continued to perform in civilian life. The band's vocalist passed away after a few years of performing and the band with a new vocalist continues to perform perhaps to this day. The band 'Del Vikings' brought a wonderful version of the song 'Over the Rainbow'.
The audience of dancers does not allow for any repertoire renewal and every performance must include the best of the old and beloved hits. The Vikings have no idea how many times I've played this record. If they knew, they would give me some kind of award or trophy.
- Ilan Segal -