Maybe it’s because he’s released 26 albums (most of them hits) throughout his 30-year career. Maybe it’s because his hybrid of Middle-Eastern pop and folk, flamenco, and American country rock set new music trends in the Israeli music scene. But David Broza has been compared to a lot of musicians by fans and media. He’s been called “Israel’s Bruce Springsteen”, “Israel’s Bob Dylan”, “Israel’s Stevie Ray Vaughan”, and he’s even been compared to Dire Straits.

These comparisons don’t really do the 54-year-old Tel Aviv-based musician justice. After all, Broza, who performs his poetic acoustic tunes in English, Spanish and Hebrew, is more than just a musician. He’s also a writer (he taught creative writing courses at Bennington College in the US), poet (worked with American poet Matthew Graham for a number of years) and a big time humanitarian. So if a comparison must be made, Bono is probably the way to go.

Currently Israel’s goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, Broza is perhaps best known for his peace anthems Together and Yihye Tov (Things Will Get Better), both of which have been used to promote peace for the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

He’ll make his first-ever trip to Hong Kong this fortnight for a charity concert organised by the Jewish Women’s Association Hong Kong. According to Anya Apelbaum of the JWAHK, bringing over Broza was something they’ve wanted to do for a while but couldn’t until they worked out all the charity details. “We knew that’s what he was known for and we wanted this show to give back to the community,” she says.
All proceeds of the concert will go to needy children in both Hong Kong and Israel.

With a wide range of musical influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Spanish singer Serrate, Hong Kong can expect a diverse show. Maybe he’ll even cover Sultans of Swing?

Ben Sin

David Broza plays the Leo Lee Arts Centre on March 6.

Tickets: 3128 8288; hkticketing.com.