Israeli guitarist Ayellet Hashachar Hirsch to join famed blues musician for Tel Aviv performance.
By DAVID BRINN311_Ayellet Hirsch(photo credit: Courtesy)
Drummer Tovia Bradley won’t be the only woman joining John Lee Hooker Jr. on stage when he performs here later this month. Thanks to a combination of online initiative and some virtuoso talent, Tel Aviv guitarist Ayellet Hashachar Hirsch has been invited to jam with the band at the end of the show.“I grew up on the music of his father,” said Hirsch, a fixture on the Tel Aviv rock and blues circuit.“I’ve played a lot of blues, and his father really influenced me. When I saw that John Lee Hooker Jr. was coming to Israel, I looked him up on YouTube and watched some of his videos. I sent him a friend request on Facebook and told him I’d really love to play with him. He didn’t know I was from Israel at first, but he was really nice.”Hooker said he was impressed with Hirsch’s playing, and when he realized she was going to be in Tel Aviv at the time of his show, he invited her to join the band for a song or two.“Wow, what a coincidence. I’m on my way over to Tel Aviv – let’s jam!” Hooker wrote to Hirsch.The 32-year-old Hirsch, who began playing the blues at 13, has performed her own material, worked as a “guitar for hire” and has led tribute bands to Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn.“I think that in regard to my life and the blues, I’ll be closing a circle when I play with him,” said Hirsch.
