"Israel" is a jazz composition written by John Carisi in 1949, conceived as a new form of blues and named after the newly established State of Israel. Carisi composed it specifically for the Miles Davis Nonet sessions that produced the landmark Birth of the Cool album, where it stood as the only original composition among arrangements by Gil Evans, Gerry Mulligan, and John Lewis. The piece reimagines the traditional twelve-bar blues framework with sophisticated harmonic variations, mixing minor, major, and dominant elements to create a rich and contemplative sound. Its melody is distinguished by an early and notable use of the perfect fourth interval, including arpeggiated ascending fourths and a rising chromatic line that builds distinctive tension. While Carisi remained a relatively obscure figure in jazz history, spending much of his career as an arranger for big bands led by Ray McKinley, Charlie Barnet, and Claude Thornhill, "Israel" became his most enduring contribution to the repertoire. The tune gained particular prominence through Bill Evans, whose trio recordings became closely associated with it. Gerry Mulligan also featured the piece in a special rearrangement by Carisi for his Concert Jazz Band. It has since become a widely performed jazz standard, a staple of Real Books, and a frequent subject of transcription and study.
