Why Ten

WHY TEN?

Yosef Gutman Levitt featuring Gilad Hekselman

When ancient Kabbalistic wisdom meets cutting-edge jazz, magic happens. "Why Ten?" explores the ten utterances of creation and the mystical sefirot through twelve compositions that bridge the sacred and the contemporary.
Recorded in an intimate Jerusalem studio, this is music that breathes with spiritual purpose. Yosef's custom five-string acoustic bass guitar (built by Harvey Citron, Steve Swallow's luthier) creates a foundation both earthy and ethereal, while Gilad Hekselman—winner of the 2005 Gibson Montreux International Guitar Competition—brings his masterful versatility, seamlessly flowing between electric effects and acoustic folk textures.

From the gritty opening of "Rushing Rapid" to the peaceful resolution of "Walking in Simplicity," each track invites deep listening and reflection. The music captures what critics call "rapturously melodic" explorations that settle the soul while stimulating wonder. Hekselman's guitar work evokes the atmospheric magic of ECM's finest recordings, while Levitt's transparent melodies create moments of surprising beauty—including an unexpectedly funky "Soul Spark" that showcases their playful chemistry.

This is spiritual jazz at its most accessible and profound—music that asks the eternal questions "with a smile," creating space for both contemplation and joy. In an age of complexity, "Why Ten?" offers the radical simplicity of two masters serving something greater than themselves.

Personnel:
Yosef Gutman Levitt - five-string acoustic bass guitar, compositions
Gilad Hekselman - electric & acoustic guitars
Gilad Ronen - reeds, compositions
Ofri Nehemya - drums
Production:
Recorded in Jerusalem | Mixed by Stefano Amerio
Released June 21, 2024 | Soul Song Records
Soul Song Records • Jerusalem