Shay Hazan - When It Rains It Pours [Batov Records]

Bassist, composer and producer Shay Hazan returns with his third solo album, When It Rains It Pours, on Batov Records. Following the critical success of Reclusive Ritual and Wusul وصول, Hazan takes a bold step forward, shifting from the guimbri-led sound that defined his reputation to a broader palette of bass, guitar and synth-driven compositions.

While his previous works highlighted the raw, earthy textures of the Gnawa tradition, When It Rains It Pours reflects Hazan’s evolution as a producer and multi-instrumentalist. Across eleven tracks, he deepens his exploration of layered grooves, spiritual melodies, and experimental textures, resulting in his most expansive and personal statement to date.

The album’s title embodies Hazan’s experience of feeling tested by life when multiple challenges arrived at once, musically, personally, and physically. A painful period when he was unable to play upright bass or guimbri due to joint issues became the catalyst for rediscovering electric bass, reconnecting him with an instrument he had put aside in his personal projects for years. The record documents this transition, capturing the tension between struggle and renewal.

The opening track, “Kolot,” was born from a half-forgotten session with Ethiopian saxophonist and vocalist Abate Berihune, which resurfaced years later as something entirely new. Originally conceived as a jazz piece for quintet, Hazan rediscovered Berihune’s extraordinary, wordless yet deeply resonant vocal take and built the track around it. “Kolot” means voices, and here Berihune’s voice transcends language, channeling pure expression.

“4-8” starts with a classic afrobeat structure twisted with Middle Eastern inflections. Hazan plays almost all instruments, save live drums and saxophone, creating a propulsive and hypnotic piece that harks back to Fela Kuti while expanding the tradition into new territories.

“Embrace” is perhaps Hazan’s most vulnerable composition yet, featuring his own voice alongside guimbri and keyboards. The piece speaks of embracing pain, fear, and anxiety rather than pushing them away, a mantra woven into its circular, meditative groove.

“It Pours” is an uptempo, electronics-heavy piece that blurs the line between organic and synthetic. Hazan recorded percussion, then sampled and re-layered it, creating a sound both tactile and mechanical. The result is a restless, dancefloor-oriented track that pushes his sound into new directions.

In contrast to his previous guimbri-centric albums, Hazan’s approach here underscores his growth as a studio craftsman. Sampling, layering, and textural exploration are at the core of the record, without losing the immediacy of live performance. Long-time collaborators such as saxophonist Eyal Netzer, trumpeter Roy Zuzovsky, and drummer Shahar Haziza help anchor the album in ensemble interplay, even as it delves deeper into electronic and production-led territories.

The album’s gestation was marked by encounters and inspirations that range far beyond Tel Aviv. Hazan draws influence from Malawian one-man-band musician Gasper Nali, from the spiritual openness of his sessions with legendary drummer Hamid Drake, and from years of improvised collaborations between jazz and global music traditions.

When It Rains It Pours captures Shay Hazan at a turning point: facing physical and personal limitations, yet finding new creative channels in response. By leaning into bass, guitar, and studio experimentation, Hazan has crafted an album that feels urgent, meditative, and transformative all at once—a work that firmly places him among the most adventurous voices in contemporary spiritual jazz and beyond.