Ubuntu Music to Release Album featuring Israeli Artists Mattan Klein & Uria Mader

Spice’n’Space / The Funk Thing

Release Date: 4th August 2023

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0145

Mattan Klein and Uria Mader (Photographer: Michael Pavia)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the upcoming release of The Funk Thing, the latest project from flutist/composer Mattan Klein, which will be available worldwide from 4th August 2023.

Spice’n’Space is an Israel-based jazz-funk band led by Mattan and drummer Uria Mader.

The band’s vision is about blending the old school 70s instrumental funk with some fresh and new aesthetics, delivering a perfect combination of the past with the present.

Mattan is a jazz/world music flutist and composer who has worked with some of Israel’s greatest artists such as Tom Oren (winner of the Thelonious Monk Institute Piano Competition), Gadi Stern (Shalosh), and Avri Borochov. Mattan has performed on the most prestigious worldwide stages such as Carnegie Hall (New York City) and the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC).

Uria is an up-and-coming Israeli drummer, extremely versatile and comfortable in both the jazz and rock genres and has performed on Israel’s greatest stages and festivals such as IndyNegev Festival (Israel’s biggest music festival) and Red Sea Guitar Festival.

Mattan Klein and Uria Mader (Photographer: Michael Pavia)

Spice’n’Space will be headlining the Tel Aviv International Flute Festival, and the Klaipeda International Jazz Festival in Lithuania during June 2023. The band members had performed at the London Jazz Festival, The Red Sea Jazz Festival, Nisville Jazz Festival in Serbia, Albania International Jazz Festival and many more.

Mattan and Uria describe their latest project: “The Funk Thing’ presents a fresh new approach to funky jazz with a special focus on flute in the context of groove and funk. The new album fuses old-school grooves with hints of pop and reggae elements, all the while referring to vintage keyboard and drum sounds. The result brings a new and refreshing mix to listeners but watch out because your feet might force you to get up and dance!”

Mattan Klein and Uria Mader (Photographer: Michael Pavia)

They continue, describing their relationship with Ubuntu Music: “This has been a cutting-edge platform for many diverse styles of music., It is a great privilege to be a part of this incredible Family, and to be able to present our musical creations to wider audiences. It’s rare to find such an open-minded and professionally dedicated group that puts the Arts as the primary objective. Only fantastic things can come out of such a collaboration. We are grateful and overjoyed.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “We are thrilled to extend our relationship with Mattan and now Uria. These are wonderful, talented musicians who bring joy and energy to their music, which will make anyone with a heartbeat get up and enjoy.”

For further information, please contact:

Mattan Klein (Artist):  mattanklein@hotmail.com

Emma Perry (UK Publicity):  emmasarahperry@gmail.com

Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide):  martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com 

Ubuntu Music Signs Israeli Flutist/Composer Mattan Klein For Album Release

The Mattan Klein Quartet

The Long Run

14th January 2022

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0099

Mattan Klein (Photographer: Gad Gershon)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of the very talented Israeli composer and flutist, Mattan Klein, for the release of his quartet album, The Long Run, on 14th January 2022.

Mattan was born and raised in Jerusalem. He studied at the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem and had graduated with honours from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He is the winner of the 1st prize in the 2018 international ‘7 Virtual Jazz Club Web Community Award’. His original compositions have also earned awards such as the John Lennon Song Writing Contest and the USA Song Writing Competition.  

Mattan received scholarships from the AICF, The Municipality of Jerusalem and the Israeli Ministry of Culture.  He is also the Recipient of the ACUM Scholarships for emerging artists (the Israeli Agency for Composers and Musicians).

Mattan Klein (Photographer: Yosi Zwecker)

Mattan performed on various international stages, including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, NJPAC, and more. He has recorded for a number of record labels, including SONY and Helicon Records.

In 2016, Mattan was a featured soloist with the United Kingdom Jazz Flute Big Band and his music and arrangements were performed at the London Jazz Festival 2016. Mattan's Quintet headlined the Tel Aviv International Jazz Festival in 2017 and featured vocalist Tammy Scheffer. Mattan performed at the London Jazz Festival, The Philadelphia International Jazz Festival, Chicago Israeli Jazz Festival, Jazz Education Network Conferences in New Orleans 2017 and 2020, Albania Jazz Festival 2019, Tel Aviv Jazz Festival on numerous occasions, and at the Israel Festival in Jerusalem, collaborating with international virtuosos such as Nicola Stilo, Mirko Signorile and Rodrigo Ursaia. His Quartet will be featured at the Red Sea Jazz Festival in November 2021.

Mattan Klein (Photographer: Yoav Etiel)

The Long Run, Mattan’s latest project, features several his regular musicians, including Toki Stern (Rhodes), Yoni Ben Ari (bass) and Joca Perpignan (percussion), with special guest Nitzan Bar (guitar). Mattan’s music has been described by Yossi Harsonsky, Senior Music critic at Maariv, as, “flowing, bright and listener friendly…his flute sound is clear, crispy and melodic, and the Israeli-Brazilian mix is the ultimate contemporary jazz sound, spiced with warm, unique flute sounds…Klein's virtuoso improvisation lifts Jazz-flute playing to new heights."

Describing his music and the new relationship with Ubuntu Music, Mattan shares his views: “Music is the ultimate means of connecting between souls. Words can only go so far, but music waves have the power to unite and bring a real change. When I realised how close I felt to Ubuntu’s motto I also noticed how accurately I was trying to live my life and create my music in accordance to this special word. Becoming a part of the Ubuntu Music Family is a most natural way for me to close a circle, to deliver this message of unity and equality with the right team of incredible thinkers and dreamers.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shares his thoughts: “It was an honour and exceedingly pleasant surprise to be introduced to Mattan and his multi-cultural blend of flute-led jazz music which feeds the head and the heart with something very special. We are so happy that Mattan has joined the Ubuntu family.”

For further information, please contact:

Emma Perry (UK Publicity)                                       emmasarahperry@gmail.com

Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide):           martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com