A special collaboration between the Israeli Embassy in Japan and the most popular Radio in japan (JWAVE), as a major release for the “Japan-Israel Cultural Bridge” project, Yossi Sassi and the Oriental Rock Orchestra, releases a special rock version of the well-known Folk-song called “Mayim Mayim” featuring the guitar legend Marty Friedman.
As part of the cultural project, Yossi Sassi was asked by the embassies to produce an Oriental rock arrangement to the familiar Folk-song. This new and kicking arrangement is featuring The legendary guitarist Marty Friedman (Ex’ Megadeth), who lives in Japan for the last 15 years, considered as an idol in the Japanese entertainment industry and as an outstanding international guitarist. In the last year Marty even received an honorary ambassador degree from the Japanese government.
Over the years, Sassi and Friedman combined forces several times. Recorded songs, and toured together across Europe in the all-guitar tour – “Guitar universe”. This unique arrangement of Sassi and the Orchestra, combined with Friedman’s instantly recognizable sound, brings a new and kicking vibe, Full processing Punch, joy and lots of “Bouzukitara” (Sassi’s one of a kind instrument).
In addition, as a homage to his Israeli friends and being a Jewish in origin, Marty wanted to introduce his interpretation into the Israeli national anthem “Hatikvah” into the song “Mayim Mayim”. a very moving gesture, especially during such a period of cancelation of international artists appearance in Israel, due to a uprising boycott.
Why an Israeli folk song from the 50’s for Japan?! The original version is very familiar to both Israeli and Japanese since the 1950s, when it was imported to Japan as a way to reunite the people after the war.
In the 80’s it was used as the theme song of a very popular educational animation show, and to this day it has been considered a hit and appears not only as a folk song but also mentioned in films, manga animation and school ceremonies. It’s funny that most Japanese are not even aware of the fact that the song is originally Hebrew, and most of them don’t even believe it when they are told..
The song was premiered on September 17th 2018 at the “Special israel” program at the very popular “JWAVE” Radio in Japan and distributed to all media afterward.
Familiar internationally to music fans by his unique trademark sound signature, Yossi Sassi merges roots with contemporary music, while taking Oriental Rock to levels unheard before.
Sassi plays 17 different types of guitars and traditional instruments, and was invited to play live and share the stage with artists such as Metallica, Steve Vai, Marty Friedman, Steven Wilson, Dave Lombardo, Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal (G’n’R) and many others. Sassi invented the unique Bouzouki-Guitar (Bouzoukitara) instrument (Electric guitar combined with acoustic Bouzouki & Acoustic guitar), gave a TED talk on “The power of music to unite people”, and was awarded 4 peace and friendship awards.
With over 25 years’ experience as a Producer and Composer / Arranger, as well as co-founder of “Orphaned Land” (Century Media USA/EMI), Yossi Sassi continues to soar to new horizons.
