Yotam Ben-Or’s music is music for flying and dreaming. Thoughtful yet always confident, it draws the listener in, offering space, capturing the heart, and embracing the soul. Born and raised in a small village near Jerusalem, the Israeli-Belgian musician began playing the piano at the age of ten. But he soon became captivated by the harmonica, which became his life’s work.

Ben-Or studied with Gregoire Maret, attended the Tel Aviv Conservatory and eventually moved to New York, where he studied at the New School for Jazz. His music combines the Mediterranean musical culture of his native Israel with contemporary American jazz and his love of Latin American and Caribbean music.

At the HARMONICA FEN FESTIVAL, Yotam Ben-Or will be playing with guitarist Shachar Elnatan. The two have been close friends and musical partners since 2005. During their teenage years, they spent countless hours playing music together at concerts, jam sessions and informal music gatherings.