Eli Degibri
Encyclopedia
Eli Degibri (born May 3, 1978 in Jaffa
, Israel
) is an Israel
i jazz
saxophonist, composer
and arranger
.
at age 7 in an after school music program at the Jaffa Conservatory of Music. Three years later, after attending a jazz concert, he became enamored with the saxophone
and switched his studies to that instrument.
In 1994 Degibri was selected to receive a full scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music
's Summer Performance Program. The following year Degibri was again awarded a full scholarship, and participated in the Berklee program for a second summer.
In 1997, at age 18, Degibri received a full scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music
and relocated to the United States
. After a year at Berklee, he was one of only six musicians to be selected, with a full scholarship, to attend the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
program, where he studied and performed with Ron Carter
, Benny Golson
, Jimmy Heath
and Clark Terry
.
's sextet, playing the music of Herbie Hancock's Gershwin's World
. Degibri toured the world with them for 2.5 years, and was featured on Hancock's 2002 "The Jazz Channel Presents Herbie Hancock" DVD special.
In 2002 Degibri relocated to New York
and formed his first quintet featuring Kurt Rosenwinkel
, Aaron Goldberg
, Ben Street
, and Jeff Ballard
. The band performed in New York
jazz clubs including the Blue Note
, the Jazz Standard
, 55 Bar
, Smalls Jazz Club, and Fat Cat Jazz. That same year Degibri joined drummer Al Foster
’s band - the Al Foster Quartet. Degibri was featured on Foster’s 2008 release “Love, Peace and Jazz!”, a live recording at the legendary New-York club – Village Vanguard
, and on Foster's 2008 full length DVD entitled “The Paris Concert”. A live show of the Al Foster Quartet at the Village Vanguard was aired on NPR
on May 21, 2008.
In 2008 Degibri formed his organ trio featuring Gary Versace and Obed Calvaire and released his 4th album, “Live at Louis 649”. That same year the trio toured Israel and following the tour the trio was invited by bass player and artistic director Avishai Cohen to participate at the 2009 Red Sea Jazz Festival
. In January 2011 Degibri was invited to perform at the Red Sea Jazz Festival
's first winter edition, he has performed a duo with pianist Kenny Barron
. In April 2011 Degibri joined drummer Al Foster
and bassist George Mraz
quartet together with pianist Fred Hersch
at Birdland Jazz Club in New York for a performance dedicated to the music of the late Joe Henderson
around what would have been Henderson's 74th birthday. The quartet was also invited to perform at the 2011 North Sea Jazz Festival
.
Degibri has recorded five albums under his name: “In The Beginning” (2003 - Fresh Sound Records) featuring Kurt Rosenwinkel
, Aaron Goldberg
, Ben Street
and Jeff Ballard
, “Emotionally Available” (2006 - Fresh Sound Records) featuring Aaron Goldberg
, Ben Street
and Jeff Ballard
, “One Little Song” (2006 - Degibri/Hays), a duo collaboration with pianist Kevin Hays
, “Live At Louis 649” (2008 - Anzic Records) featuring Gary Versace and Obed Calvaire, and in 2010, his latest – “Israeli Song” (Anzic Records) featuring Ron Carter
, Al Foster
and Brad Mehldau
.
Along the way Degibri has also worked with Ron Carter
, Clark Terry
, Benny Golson
, Jimmy Heath
, Eric Reed
and the Mingus Big Band
.
In October 2011 it was announced that Degibri, together with Dubi Lenz, have been chosen to become the new artistic directors of the Red Sea Jazz Festival
.
Jaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) is an Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
saxophonist, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
.
Early life
Degibri first began playing the mandolinMandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
at age 7 in an after school music program at the Jaffa Conservatory of Music. Three years later, after attending a jazz concert, he became enamored with the saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
and switched his studies to that instrument.
In 1994 Degibri was selected to receive a full scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
's Summer Performance Program. The following year Degibri was again awarded a full scholarship, and participated in the Berklee program for a second summer.
In 1997, at age 18, Degibri received a full scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
and relocated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. After a year at Berklee, he was one of only six musicians to be selected, with a full scholarship, to attend the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is a non-profit music education-oriented organization co-founded in 1986 by the family of the late American jazz musician Thelonious Monk, opera singer Maria Fisher and Thomas R...
program, where he studied and performed with Ron Carter
Ron Carter
Ron Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that...
, Benny Golson
Benny Golson
Benny Golson is an American bebop/hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger.-Biography:While in high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Golson played with several other promising young musicians, including John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and...
, Jimmy Heath
Jimmy Heath
James Edward Heath , nicknamed Little Bird, is an American jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger. He is the brother of bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert Heath.-Biography:...
and Clark Terry
Clark Terry
Clark Terry is an American swing and bop trumpeter, a pioneer of the fluegelhorn in jazz, educator, NEA Jazz Masters inductee, and recipient of the 2010 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award...
.
International career
After graduating from the Monk Institute in 1999, Degibri was asked to join pianist Herbie HancockHerbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
's sextet, playing the music of Herbie Hancock's Gershwin's World
Gershwin's World
Gershwin's World is the forty-second album by Herbie Hancock.This album featured the songs of George and Ira Gershwin. It features several prominent musicians including Joni Mitchell, Chick Corea, Stevie Wonder, and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra....
. Degibri toured the world with them for 2.5 years, and was featured on Hancock's 2002 "The Jazz Channel Presents Herbie Hancock" DVD special.
In 2002 Degibri relocated to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and formed his first quintet featuring Kurt Rosenwinkel
Kurt Rosenwinkel
Kurt Rosenwinkel is an American jazz guitarist and keyboardist who came to prominence in the 1990s.-Biography:He attended the Berklee School of Music for two and a half years before leaving in his junior year to tour with Gary Burton, the dean of the school at the time...
, Aaron Goldberg
Aaron Goldberg
Aaron Goldberg is a jazz pianist based in New York City. He began studying piano at seven and studied under Bob Sinicrope of Milton Academy and saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi...
, Ben Street
Ben Street
Ben Street is a New York-area jazz double bassist. He has played with many great jazz artists, notably Kurt Rosenwinkel on the album Next Step, Ben Monder on the album Dust and Sam Rivers on the album Violet Violets...
, and Jeff Ballard
Jeff Ballard
Jeffrey Scott Ballard is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, playing from to .Following his career, Ballard returned to his hometown of Billings, where he has become an instrumental part of local American Legion Baseball programs...
. The band performed in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
jazz clubs including the Blue Note
Blue note
In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note sung or played at a slightly lower pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes. Typically the alteration is a semitone or less, but this varies among performers and genres. Country blues, in particular, features wide variations from the...
, the Jazz Standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
, 55 Bar
55 Bar
55 Bar is a jazz club in New York City located at 55 Christopher Street.-History:The 55 Bar has been around since 1919. It was originally a speakeasy during Prohibition....
, Smalls Jazz Club, and Fat Cat Jazz. That same year Degibri joined drummer Al Foster
Al Foster
Al Foster is an American jazz drummer. Foster played with Miles Davis's large funk fusion group in the 70s, was one of the few people to have contact with Miles during his retirement, and was also part of his comeback album The Man With the Horn of 1981...
’s band - the Al Foster Quartet. Degibri was featured on Foster’s 2008 release “Love, Peace and Jazz!”, a live recording at the legendary New-York club – Village Vanguard
Village Vanguard
The Village Vanguard is a jazz club located at in Greenwich Village, New York City. The club was opened on February 22, 1935, by Max Gordon. At first, it also featured other forms of music such as folk music and beat poetry, but it switched to an all-jazz format in 1957.-History:Over 100 jazz...
, and on Foster's 2008 full length DVD entitled “The Paris Concert”. A live show of the Al Foster Quartet at the Village Vanguard was aired on NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
on May 21, 2008.
In 2008 Degibri formed his organ trio featuring Gary Versace and Obed Calvaire and released his 4th album, “Live at Louis 649”. That same year the trio toured Israel and following the tour the trio was invited by bass player and artistic director Avishai Cohen to participate at the 2009 Red Sea Jazz Festival
Red Sea Jazz Festival
The Red Sea Jazz Festival is a jazz festival held annually in Eilat, Israel.The Red Sea Jazz Festival was first held in 1987. It is a four-day long event featuring 9-10 concerts per evening, 6 workshops with guest artists and nightly jam sessions. All performances are held outdoors at the Eilat port...
. In January 2011 Degibri was invited to perform at the Red Sea Jazz Festival
Red Sea Jazz Festival
The Red Sea Jazz Festival is a jazz festival held annually in Eilat, Israel.The Red Sea Jazz Festival was first held in 1987. It is a four-day long event featuring 9-10 concerts per evening, 6 workshops with guest artists and nightly jam sessions. All performances are held outdoors at the Eilat port...
's first winter edition, he has performed a duo with pianist Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron , is an American jazz pianist. He is the younger brother of tenor saxophonist Bill Barron, and known for his lyrical, adaptive style.-Biography:...
. In April 2011 Degibri joined drummer Al Foster
Al Foster
Al Foster is an American jazz drummer. Foster played with Miles Davis's large funk fusion group in the 70s, was one of the few people to have contact with Miles during his retirement, and was also part of his comeback album The Man With the Horn of 1981...
and bassist George Mraz
George Mraz
George Mraz is a jazz bassist and alto saxophonist. He was a member of Oscar Peterson's group, and has worked with Stan Getz, Tommy Flanagan, Chet Baker and many other important jazz musicians...
quartet together with pianist Fred Hersch
Fred Hersch
Fred Hersch is a contemporary American jazz pianist who has become a consistent and highly demanded performer on the international jazz scene....
at Birdland Jazz Club in New York for a performance dedicated to the music of the late Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than forty years Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent labels, including Blue Note.-Early life:From a very large family with five sisters and nine...
around what would have been Henderson's 74th birthday. The quartet was also invited to perform at the 2011 North Sea Jazz Festival
North Sea Jazz Festival
The North Sea Jazz Festival is an annual jazz festival held each second weekend of July in the Netherlands at the Ahoy venue. It used to be in The Hague but since 2006 it has been held in Rotterdam...
.
Degibri has recorded five albums under his name: “In The Beginning” (2003 - Fresh Sound Records) featuring Kurt Rosenwinkel
Kurt Rosenwinkel
Kurt Rosenwinkel is an American jazz guitarist and keyboardist who came to prominence in the 1990s.-Biography:He attended the Berklee School of Music for two and a half years before leaving in his junior year to tour with Gary Burton, the dean of the school at the time...
, Aaron Goldberg
Aaron Goldberg
Aaron Goldberg is a jazz pianist based in New York City. He began studying piano at seven and studied under Bob Sinicrope of Milton Academy and saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi...
, Ben Street
Ben Street
Ben Street is a New York-area jazz double bassist. He has played with many great jazz artists, notably Kurt Rosenwinkel on the album Next Step, Ben Monder on the album Dust and Sam Rivers on the album Violet Violets...
and Jeff Ballard
Jeff Ballard
Jeffrey Scott Ballard is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, playing from to .Following his career, Ballard returned to his hometown of Billings, where he has become an instrumental part of local American Legion Baseball programs...
, “Emotionally Available” (2006 - Fresh Sound Records) featuring Aaron Goldberg
Aaron Goldberg
Aaron Goldberg is a jazz pianist based in New York City. He began studying piano at seven and studied under Bob Sinicrope of Milton Academy and saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi...
, Ben Street
Ben Street
Ben Street is a New York-area jazz double bassist. He has played with many great jazz artists, notably Kurt Rosenwinkel on the album Next Step, Ben Monder on the album Dust and Sam Rivers on the album Violet Violets...
and Jeff Ballard
Jeff Ballard
Jeffrey Scott Ballard is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, playing from to .Following his career, Ballard returned to his hometown of Billings, where he has become an instrumental part of local American Legion Baseball programs...
, “One Little Song” (2006 - Degibri/Hays), a duo collaboration with pianist Kevin Hays
Kevin Hays
Kevin Hays is a jazz pianist. He was raised in Greenwich, ConnecticutHe is known for the Kevin Hays Trio and being in the Bill Stewart Trio....
, “Live At Louis 649” (2008 - Anzic Records) featuring Gary Versace and Obed Calvaire, and in 2010, his latest – “Israeli Song” (Anzic Records) featuring Ron Carter
Ron Carter
Ron Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that...
, Al Foster
Al Foster
Al Foster is an American jazz drummer. Foster played with Miles Davis's large funk fusion group in the 70s, was one of the few people to have contact with Miles during his retirement, and was also part of his comeback album The Man With the Horn of 1981...
and Brad Mehldau
Brad Mehldau
Brad Mehldau is an American jazz pianist. Besides leading his own group, the Brad Mehldau Trio, he has performed with many renowned artists, including Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, Larry Grenadier, Peter Bernstein, Jeff Ballard, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Kurt...
.
Along the way Degibri has also worked with Ron Carter
Ron Carter
Ron Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that...
, Clark Terry
Clark Terry
Clark Terry is an American swing and bop trumpeter, a pioneer of the fluegelhorn in jazz, educator, NEA Jazz Masters inductee, and recipient of the 2010 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award...
, Benny Golson
Benny Golson
Benny Golson is an American bebop/hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger.-Biography:While in high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Golson played with several other promising young musicians, including John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and...
, Jimmy Heath
Jimmy Heath
James Edward Heath , nicknamed Little Bird, is an American jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger. He is the brother of bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert Heath.-Biography:...
, Eric Reed
Eric Reed
Eric Shane Reed is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He is an alumnus of Texas A&M University...
and the Mingus Big Band
Mingus Big Band
The Mingus Big Band is an ensemble, based in New York City, that specializes in the compositions of the late Charles Mingus. It is managed by his widow, Sue Mingus and represented by Tree Lawn Artists, Inc.. In addition to its weekly Monday night appearance at the Jazz Standard in New York City,...
.
In October 2011 it was announced that Degibri, together with Dubi Lenz, have been chosen to become the new artistic directors of the Red Sea Jazz Festival
Red Sea Jazz Festival
The Red Sea Jazz Festival is a jazz festival held annually in Eilat, Israel.The Red Sea Jazz Festival was first held in 1987. It is a four-day long event featuring 9-10 concerts per evening, 6 workshops with guest artists and nightly jam sessions. All performances are held outdoors at the Eilat port...
.
As leader
- In The Beginning (2003)
- Emotionally Available (2006)
- Live At Louis 649 (2008)
- Israeli Song (2010)
Selected sideman
- The Jazz Channel Presents Herbie Hancock (2002) - Herbie HancockHerbie HancockHerbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
- Love, Peace and Jazz! Live at the Village Vanguard (2008) - Al FosterAl FosterAl Foster is an American jazz drummer. Foster played with Miles Davis's large funk fusion group in the 70s, was one of the few people to have contact with Miles during his retirement, and was also part of his comeback album The Man With the Horn of 1981...
- The Paris Concert (2008) - Al FosterAl FosterAl Foster is an American jazz drummer. Foster played with Miles Davis's large funk fusion group in the 70s, was one of the few people to have contact with Miles during his retirement, and was also part of his comeback album The Man With the Horn of 1981...