Idan Raichel

Idan Raichel (Hebrew: עידן רייכל‎, IPA: [ʔiˈdan ˈʁaiχel]; b. 12 September 1977) is an Israeli singer-songwriter and a musician, known for his Idan Raichel Project (Hebrew: הפרויקט של עידן רייכל), distinctive for its fusion of electronics, traditional Hebrew texts, Arab and Ethiopian music. Prior to the Project, Raichel was a keyboardist, collaborating with artists such as Ivri Lider.

Biography

Idan Raichel was born in Kfar Saba, Israel. He began to play the accordion at the age of nine. He was attracted to gypsy music and tango, and studied jazz piano in high school.

Raichel served in the Israel Defense Forces army band at the age of 18, performing covers of Israeli and Western pop hits at military bases around the country. As the musical director of the group, he learned to do arrangements and produce live shows.

Following his military service, Raichel worked as a counselor at a boarding school for immigrants. There he met young Ethiopian Jews who introduced him to Ethiopian folk and pop music. These included Mahmoud Ahmed, Aster Aweke and Gigi, who took him to Ethiopian bars and clubs in Tel Aviv.