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Gilad Hekselman

Gilad Hekselman has been developing a reputation as one of the most promising guitarists in New York since his arrival in 2004. After only a few years this native Israeli has shared the stage with some of the greatest artists in the New York City jazz scene including Chris Potter, Mark Turner, John Scofield, Anat Cohen, Ari Hoenig, Esperanza Spalding, Sam Yahel, Jeff Ballard, Gretchen Parlato, Avishai Cohen, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Tigran Hamasyan, Aaron Parks and Greg Hutchinson.

Gilad has played all major jazz clubs in New York City including the Blue Note, The Jazz Standard, Dizzy's Club and Smalls. He is constantly touring world-wide and has played most noteworthy jazz festivals including Montreux (Sui), North Sea (Ned), Montreal (Can) & San Francisco (USA).

Gilad is the winner of the 2005 Gibson Montreux International Guitar Competition. He opened for guitar legend Paco de Lucia at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2006, which led to a string of performances at the IAJE Conference and at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York.

That same year Gilad released his debut album SplitLife (Smalls Records) recorded with bassist Joe Martin and drummer Ari Hoenig. It received rave reviews from the press as did his second album, Words Unspoken (LateSet Records), recorded and released in 2008 with Joe Martin, drummer Marcus Gilmore and tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm.

In 2009, Gilad recorded three tracks for Walt Disney Records, one of which was included in the record Everybody Wants To Be a Cat (2011). The album features versions to Disney songs played by a top-shelf lineup of musicians including Dave Brubeck, Joshua Redman, Esperanza Spalding, Diane Reeves, Roy Hargrove, Kurt Rosenwinkel, The Bad Plus and many other jazz legends.

In the spring of 2010 Gilad recorded his third album, Hearts Wide Open, with Joe Martin on bass, Marcus Gilmore on drums and world-renowned saxophonist Mark Turner, a project that Gilad defined at the time as his "best recorded work so far". The record received rave reviews globally and was featured in many Best-of-2011 lists such as New York Times, Amazon and iTunes.

In April of 2013, Gilad released his fourth album, This Just In, under the JazzVillage label of Harmonia Mundi. Recorded and engineered in New York by Michael Cisneros Perez, the new album features Gilad Hekselman, Joe Martin, and Marcus Gilmore also showcases Mark Turner on three titles.

Born in Israel in 1983, Gilad studied classical piano from age 6 and began studying guitar at the age of 9.

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7
Album Review

Ben Winkelman: Heartbeat

Read "Heartbeat" reviewed by Neil Duggan


Awaiting the arrival of his first child while locked down in New York City during the pandemic were probably not the circumstances which pianist Ben Winkelman would ideally have chosen for writing new music. Nonetheless, taking inspiration from the anticipation of fatherhood and the feeling of isolation acted as the catalyst for the nine compositions which make up his sixth album, Heartbeat. His previous albums focused on a piano trio format; this one marks a slight change as ...

2
Album Review

Nicole Zuraitis: How Love Begins

Read "How Love Begins" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Love is not for the faint of heart.  Its tides are unpredictable, bound to different souls, intensifying and ebbing in parallel to the feelings and favors of each individual who exerts their gravitational pull on an evolving romance.  Musically charting those waters--depicting the full scope of that sea through song--is no simple feat. Yet some supreme talents, like this one, make it happen and make it look easy. Nicole Zuraitis--a first-rate songwriter, powerhouse vocalist and grade-A pianist--proves to be an ...

2
Album Review

JD Walter: What the World Needs Now

Read "What the World Needs Now" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


JD Walter beckons listeners into a soulful and captivating journey through modern jazz interpretations of non-jazz material. With his unique vocal stylings and innovative arrangements, he brings a fresh perspective to familiar popular tunes, and several jazz standards, while delivering thought-provoking original compositions. From the very first track--Stevie Wonder's “Golden Lady"--it is evident that Walter's vocal prowess is a force to be reckoned with. He dashes along in full flight and then effortlessly shifts into intricate ...

10
Album Review

Joey Alexander: Origin

Read "Origin" reviewed by Peter Jones


Pianist Joey Alexander was never going to spend his life churning out standards. You could tell from his reimagined version of “Giant Steps," the first track on his 2015 debut album, which begins with a dazzling two-minute solo introduction. The same album also features an original tune, the prowling “Ma Blues." It was clearly only going to be a matter of time before he came up with an all-originals album, and so it is with this, his sixth outing. Meanwhile ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Gilad Hekselman, Mark Owen, Mike Miller and Andy Timmons

Read "Gilad Hekselman, Mark Owen, Mike Miller and Andy Timmons" reviewed by Len Davis


Featured in this show: Gilad Hekselman's Ask For Chaos , Mark Owen's Respite, Stick Men, and the latest from Andy Timmons. Playlist Gilad Hekselman “Tokyo Cookie" from Ask For Chaos (Hexophonic) 00:00 Mark D Owen “Anesthetic" from Respite (Blue Canoe) 06:02 Stick Men “Level 5" from Owari (Moonjune) 12:134 Simon Phillips} &#147;Nyanga" from <em>Protocol 5</em> (Phantom) 18:27</li> <li>{{m: Mike Miller “Colvin" from Trust (Blue Canoe) 24:32 Andy Timmons “When Words Fail" from Electric Truth (Timstone) 30:49 Ben Matthews} ...

11
Album Review

Ivo Neame: Glimpses of Truth

Read "Glimpses of Truth" reviewed by Chris May


"The Rise of The Lizard People," the title of the scene-setting opening track on Ivo Neame's Glimpses Of Truth, was prompted by an article Neame read which claimed that 12 million Americans believe that interstellar lizards run the United States. Only 12 million? In a country with a population approaching 332 million, around half of whose voters are idiots and conspiracy theorists, one might imagine that a far greater number would be feeling threatened by shape-shifting reptiles. To be fair, ...

5
Album Review

Trio Grande: Trio Grande

Read "Trio Grande" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


It's not easy watching all the divergent and elusive pieces come together on Trio Grande, saxophonist Will Vinson, guitarist Gilad Hekselman and drummer/percussionist Antonio Sánchez's first outing, but then that's not their desire at all. Their work is to challenge the expectations and inclinations that dull and lull us into complacency, into wholly unimaginative realms and lead us to yon wider vistas. Born from various residencies at the NY's legendary (in fall 2020 temporarily shuttered) Cornelia Street Café, ...

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7

Contest

7 Virtual Jazz Club's Contest 2017 Edition: Winners Announced!

7 Virtual Jazz Club's Contest 2017 Edition: Winners Announced!

Source: Valerio Pappi

The 7 Virtual Jazz Club is proud to announce the winners of the 2017 edition of the contest. The international jury, made of jazz experts, composed their ranks. The jury prize (€ 2,000 plus artistic advertising) has been assigned to the American guitarist Gilad Hekselman with his GHex trio (Rick Rosato on double bass and Jonathan Pinson on drums), which presented the song “Ghex Clap Clap." 7 Virtual Jazz Judges Comment on Gilad Hekselman's “Ghex Clap Clap" “This musically tight ...

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Recording

Guitarist/Composer Gilad Hekselman To Release "Homes" - CD Release Celebrations in New York

Guitarist/Composer Gilad Hekselman To Release &quot;Homes&quot; - CD Release Celebrations in New York

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

His fifth album as a leader—available on the JazzVillage Label (distributed Harmonia Mundi) on October 9 in North America and on October 2 in Europe Homes Features Gilad Hekselman: guitars; Joe Martin: bass; Marcus Gilmore: drums (except track 10); Jeff Ballard: drums (tracks 3, 10). CD RELEASE CELEBRATIONS Gilad Hekselman: guitar; Joe Martin: bass; Marcus Gilmore: drums. October 2: The Cornelia Street Cafe - NYC October 5: Smalls Jazz Club - NYC November 6: The Bronx ...

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Event

This Wednesday-LAJC Residency at Blue Whale, Part III, David Valdez Group, Mike Scott Trio, The Music of Monk featuring Gilad Hekselman

This Wednesday-LAJC Residency at Blue Whale, Part III, David Valdez Group, Mike Scott Trio, The Music of Monk featuring Gilad Hekselman

Source: Los Angeles Jazz Collective

Another Wednesday night brought another boisterous crowd and another round of compelling music. Thanks again to those who made it last week and especially to those of you who made it out for both Wednesdays. Here's what's happening this week: David Valdez Group Saxophonist David Valdez has been living in Portland, Oregon for nearly a dozen years but prior to that he certainly got around, from his hometown of San Francisco to Santa Cruz, off to college in Boston, back ...

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Radio

The Jazz Session #306: Gilad Hekselman

The Jazz Session #306: Gilad Hekselman

Source: AAJ Staff


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Performance / Tour

Israeli Jazz Festival 2009 at Chris' Jazz Cafe

Israeli Jazz Festival 2009 at Chris' Jazz Cafe

Source: All About Jazz

Jazz, born out of the diversity and rhythm of American life, is jumping to the beat of Israels mix of cool Mediterranean nights, the hustle and bustle of busy Tel Aviv cafes, and the multi cultural rhythms of a nation where west and east meet. Jazz has been embraced by a new generation of young Israeli musicians and now its gracing the stage for the Philadelphia Israeli Jazz Festival 2009.

For four nights, Chris' Jazz Cafe, in partnership with Consulate ...


"possessing a distinctive lyricism and easily embraceable artfulness that seems to reach beyond his years... Hekselman has a pristine, crystalline sound and a bright playing style that seems as natural and sustaining as air and water... Imagine a brightly lit day, sunlight on water - you are there. If Monet’s waterlily studies were music this could be it... Hekselman performs with a quiet assertiveness and expertise that is winning throughout..."

Laurel Gross, All About Jazz

“...Gilad Hekselman's SplitLife (Smalls Records) is everything one could hope for in a debut release. The Israeli-born guitarist shows maturity beyond his years... In terms of time feel, technique, tone projection and linear and chordal sophistication, Hekselman is clearly poised to reach the highest ranks on his instrument.”

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Novas Trio
band / ensemble / orchestra
Pere Bujosa
bass, acoustic
The Beat Freaks
guitar, electric
Bojh Parker
guitar
Nastazio Gkoumas
guitar, electric

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

What the World Needs...

Arkadia Records
2023

buy

Heartbeat

OA2 Records
2023

buy

How Love Begins

Outside in Music
2023

buy

Origin

Mack Avenue Records
2022

buy

The Song Is You

Challenge Records
2021

buy

Praise

From: Heartbeat
By Gilad Hekselman

Up Jumped Spring

From: The Song Is You
By Gilad Hekselman

VBlues

From: Ask For Chaos
By Gilad Hekselman

Videos

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