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 Gilad Atzmon was born in Israel in 1963 and had
his musical training at the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem (Composition and Jazz)
A multi-instrumentalist he plays Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxes,
Clarinet, Sol, Zurna and Flutes.
Until 1994 he was a
producer-arranger for various Israeli Dance & Rock Projects, performing in
Europe and the USA playing ethnic Jewish soul music. Highly involved in the
Israeli musical scene he recorded for 'Ofra Haza' , Yeuda Poliker
and many others.
He also toured with Memphis Slim and supporting many
international jazz names such as Jack De Johnette, Michel Petrucciani, Richie
Byrach and many others.
Coming to the UK in 1994, Atzmon recovered an
interest in playing the music of the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern
Europe that had been in the back of his mind for years. He founded the Orient
House Ensemble in London and started re-defining his own roots in the light of
political reality. Since then the
Orient House Ensemble has toured all over
the world.
The
Orient House Ensemble includes Asaf Sirkis on Drums, Yaron
Stavi on Bass and Frank
Harrison on
keys.
Also a prolific
writer, Atzmon's essays are widely published his novel
'Guide to the perplexed' and 'My One And Only Love'
have been translated into 24 languages all together.
Over the years
Gilad Atzmon's music has moved more and more towards a cultural hybrid.
As a bandleader and reed player he has been amazing his listeners with his
powerful personal style that combines great bebop artistry and Middle-Eastern
roots in a sophisticated, sometimes ironical manner. Influenced by Coltranes
powerful approach on the sax, Gilad's live
performances are simply breathtaking and
overwhelming.
As a
member of the Blockheads, Gilad has also recorded and performed with such
as Ian Dury, Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Connor and Paul McCartney.
Gilad has also recorded with Robert Wyatt, the Waters Boys and
many others.
In 2007 Gilad
extended his role as a Producer, working with outstanding singer-songwriter
Sarah Gillespie to produce her debut album due to be released
in
September 2008. www.sarahgillespie.com
Further projects are planned for
2008.
To listen to Gilad
& more info: www.gilad.co.uk
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 Charis Ioannou was born in
Nicosia, Cyprus in 1976. At the age of eight he started piano lessons and later
picked up the saxophone at the age of fourteen. After graduating from high
school he went on do his military service, where he served his country as a
sergeant in the military band playing tenor saxophone. In 1997 Charis was
enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied
saxophone performance and Jazz composition. Charis won the Woodwind
Achievement Award in the last year of his studies in Boston and in 2001,
after graduation, he moved to New York where he stayed for three years. While in
New York, Charis earned his Masters degree in performance from the New York
University and in the meantime performed and taught around the state. The
collaboration with Rick Parker lead to the CD release of Rick Parker
Collective – New York Gravity on the Fresh Sound Label where
Charis plays tenor and soprano saxophones as well as doubling on bass clarinet.
Charis left from the United States in 2005 and moved back to Cyprus. The return
to his home country found Charis collaborating with various musicians. Charis is
now a member of many local bands, including The Petsteppers, Uptown Beat,
Kyproyenia and The Cyprus Big Band with which he performs around the
island and other neighboring countries. Charis is also composing and recording
original music and teaches the saxophone and the jazz idiom at the island’s
leading colleges as well as privately
Ioannis Vafeas on Drums
To listen to Haris & more info:
my space Charis Ioannou
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