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Eli Degibri

Born and raised in Israel, saxophonist Eli Degibri first began playing the mandolin 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.

At 16, Degibri has already worked professionally with some of the major names in the Israeli music scene establishing himself as one of the leading musicians in Israel. That same year (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 College of Music program for a second summer.

In 1997, at 18, Degibri received a full scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music and relocated to the United States. After a year at Berklee College of Music, he was one of only six musicians from around the world to be selected, with a full scholarship, to attend the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance program, where he studied and performed with jazz legends Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath and Clark Terry.

After graduating with honors from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance in 1999, Degibri was asked to join The Herbie Hancock Sextet and toured the world, playing the music of Herbie Hancock’s three-time Grammy Award-Winning Album – Gershwin’s World. Degibri performed with Herbie Hancock for 2.5 years, touring in the world, and was featured on Hancock’s 2002 “The Jazz Channel Presents Herbie Hancock” DVD special.

In 2002, after relocating to NYC, Degibri formed his first quintet featuring Kurt Rosenwinkel, Aaron Goldberg, Ben Street and Jeff Ballard and performed regularly in New- York’s best jazz clubs. That same year Degibri joined legendary drummer Al Foster’s band and was an integral part of the Al Foster Quartet until 2011.

In 2003 Degibri released his critically acclaimed debut album – “In the Beginning” – under the Fresh Sound label with his quintet. That same year Degibri was chosen as one of the first artists of the Israel Cultural Excellence Foundation. “IcExcellence” chosen artists serve as Israel’s best cultural ambassadors throughout the world, give back to the community, and expand the excellence effect.

In 2006 Degibri released his second and third albums – “Emotionally Available” – under the Fresh Sound label with his quartet featuring Aaron Goldberg, Ben Street and Jeff Ballard, and “One Little Song” – a duo collaboration with pianist Kevin Hays. Degibri also received in 2006 the honorary Israeli “Prime Minister Award for jazz composition”, recognizing his great talent as a melodic composer and a song writer.

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Radio & Podcasts

Buddy Rich, Donald Byrd & Eli Degibri

Read "Buddy Rich, Donald Byrd & Eli Degibri" reviewed by Joe Dimino


We start the 753rd Episode of Neon Jazz with Israeli jazz saxophonist Eli Degibri and his tribute to his parents with Henri and Rachel. We also profile Grace Fox a young big band leader from New York and hear new music from Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii. We also hear music from storied Philadelphia bassist Mike Boone and sprinkle in some classics from Moe Koffman, The Harmlem Hamfats and The Jazz Epistles. Finally, we top it off with the Chicago bassist ...

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Album Review

Eli Degibri: Israeli Song

Read "Israeli Song" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Saxophonist Eli Degibri's name may be the least familiar one on the cover of Israeli Song. His quartet mates on this superb disc are of the highest level; it would be hard to find higher profile or finer accompanists. With that lineup--two legendary stars in drummer Al Foster and bassist Ron Carter--and, in pianist Brad Mehldau, a newer huge talent who keeps gathering momentum--it becomes a matter, for the leader, of holding his own. He does so with high energy, ...

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Extended Analysis

Eli Degibri: Israeli Song

Read "Eli Degibri: Israeli Song" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Eli DegibriIsraeli SongAnzic Records2010 If jazz buffs were approached at the start of the 1990s and asked to list some top-flight Israeli jazz musicians, plenty of them wouldn't be able to utter a single name. That just goes to show how much the times have changed. In 2010, Israeli-born jazz musicians are among the brightest stars in modern jazz and saxophonist Eli Degibri's name is high up on this list. Degibri ...

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Album Review

Eli Degibri: In The Beginning

Read "In The Beginning" reviewed by Terrell Kent Holmes


Israeli-born tenor saxophonist Eli Degibri, who not too long ago cut his teeth playing with Herbie Hancock, has taken his own maiden voyage with his premiere CD release, the appropriately titled In the Beginning. Degibri composed most of the songs here, narratives defined by deft rhythm and tempo shifts and ample space for the musicians to express themselves. Appropriately, the title cut leads things off, a tune imbued with the anticipatory, exciting feeling of something--a life form, a ...

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Album Review

Eli Degibri: In The Beginning

Read "In The Beginning" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Eli Degibri is a young tenor saxophonist from Israel, here with his first recording, and an impressive debut it is. Degibri exhibits a robust, warm tone and an unpredictable sense of phrasing. His playing runs from graceful bebop dancing worthy of Sonny Stitt to upper register cries that resonate like a desert wind.Degibri is also a very promising composer. His tunes include changing tempos and time signatures, as well as a mix of jazz, funk, and ethnic rhythms. ...

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Album Review

Eli Degibri: In The Beginning

Read "In The Beginning" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


Young tenor saxophonist Eli Degibri brings a seasoned and somewhat unique approach to his debut recording, In The Beginning. While it's impressive that the Israeli native performed in circles with names such as Herbie Hancock, Al Foster, and the Mingus Big Band, it is more impressive to hear his own style and development come to the forefront. Paying your dues on the bandstand is one thing--but leading a band and creating your own music is quite another.While In ...

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Event

First Michael Brecker Saxophone Competition Announced

First Michael Brecker Saxophone Competition Announced

Source: Eli Degibri

Internationally acclaimed saxophonist, Eli Degibri, announced his intention to establish The Michael Brecker Saxophone Competition last month at the Nearness of You Concert, a biennial event held at Lincoln Center to raise money for cancer research in honor of the late Michael Brecker. In front of an audience consisting of President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton, Degibri reminisced about the first time he heard the legendary Brecker perform, thirty years prior, at the inaugural Red Sea Jazz Festival in ...

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Festival

Eli Degibri Preps You For The Red Sea Jazz Festival

Eli Degibri Preps You For The Red Sea Jazz Festival

Source: Eli Degibri

My first memory of the jazz festival in Eilat was when I was around 15 years old, about a year before I was allowed to head down south by myself. I had to imagine what it would really be like there while listening to live broadcasts religiously on Kol Israel Radio. To this day I still have the cassettes with recordings of those magical performances in Eilat. One of those, for example, was from a concert featuring Joe Henderson with ...

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Event

Internationally Acclaimed Israeli Saxophonist Eli Degibri To Perform At The White House

Internationally Acclaimed Israeli Saxophonist Eli Degibri To Perform At The White House

Source: Greg Pasenko

Internationally acclaimed Israeli jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader, Eli Degbiri, will be performing at the 2016 International Jazz Day Global Concert, hosted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at The White House. The concert will be broadcast nationally on ABC on April 30th—International Jazz Day—and streamed across the globe by the United Nations and UNESCO. A remarkable list of artists and living legends will take the stage along with Degibri, including Chick Corea, Sting, Pat Metheny, Aretha Franklin, ...

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Recording

Plus Loin To Release Saxophonist-Composer Eli Degibri's New Recording, "Twelve"

Plus Loin To Release Saxophonist-Composer Eli Degibri's New Recording, "Twelve"

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

To be released in the U.S. on January 28, 2014, Twelve is Degibri's sixth album as a leader, and the first featuring his remarkable new quartet “Most Saxophonists from the young generation have great technique, better than saxophonists from my generation, but they can't tell a story. Eli knows how to tell a story, there's a lot of feeling in his playing, a lot of thought and he's a wonderful melodist... In fact, Eli is the only young saxophonist that ...

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Festival

Anzic Recording Artist, Saxophonist Eli Degibri Appointed Artistic Director Of the Red Sea Jazz Festival

Anzic Recording Artist, Saxophonist Eli Degibri Appointed Artistic Director Of the Red Sea Jazz Festival

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

Anzic Recording Artist, Saxophonist Eli Degibri Appointed Artistic Director Of the Red Sea Jazz Festival, Israel's Premier Jazz Festival For 25 Years The Red Sea Jazz Festival is proud to announce the appointment of saxophonist, composer and Anzic Records recording artist, Eli Degibri, as joint Artistic Director (with Mr. Dubi Lenz). Established in 1987 as a four-day international jazz festival, the Red Sea Jazz Festival now enters its 26th year under the direction, and in the capable hands of Degibri ...

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Performance / Tour

Eli Degibri's Upcoming 2011 Tour Dates

Eli Degibri's Upcoming 2011 Tour Dates

Source: Two for the Show Media

February 24, Smalls Jazz Club, New York, NY Eli Degibri Quartet with Gary Versace, Doug Weiss, Johnathan Blake March 25, Hamburg, Germany Eli Degibri with the Al Foster Quartet March 26, Piacenza, Italy Eli Degibri with the Al Foster Quartet March 28, Ravenna, Italy Eli Degibri with the Al Foster Quartet March 29, Ravenna, Italy Eli Degibri with the Al Foster Quartet March 30, Ravenna, Italy Eli Degibri with the Al Foster Quartet April 8, Sante Fe Friends of Jazz, ...

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Contest

Enter the Anzic Records "Eli Degibri - Live at Louis 649" Giveaway Contest

Enter the Anzic Records "Eli Degibri - Live at Louis 649" Giveaway Contest

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Anzic Records “Eli Degibri - Live at Louis 649“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on May 3rd. Click here to enter the contest

(Following Eli Degibri at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! Your Friends at Anzic Records

About Eli Degibri In 1999 saxophonist Eli Degibri was recruited by Herbie Hancock to play with the ...

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Performance / Tour

Dekel Bor Trio Featuring Eli Degibri Tonight at Flute

Dekel Bor Trio Featuring Eli Degibri Tonight at Flute

Source: All About Jazz

The Dekel Bor Trio with special guest Eli Degibri will be performing tonight Jan. 10th at Flute Bar 205 W54th st. corner of Broadway 8pm-11 No cover Dekel Bor - Guitar Dave Ruffels - Bass Nadav Snir and Eli Degibri - Sax Israeli saxophonist Eli Degibri has performed with Herbie Hancock, Al Foster, Ron Carter, Eric ...

Selected Quotes:

"5 STARS - MASTERPIECE" -DownBeat Magazine

"Don’t miss him. He commanded attention when he toured with Herbie Hancock. He is a very modern improviser, super artful; his creations are spiky and fractured but immaculately sculptured." -Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

"One of the best saxophonists around..." -The New York City Jazz Record

"A very talented composer, arranger, and performer… the caliber of which is a rare find in jazz today. Degibri’s music treads uncharted waters..." —Herbie Hancock

"Degibri knows how to tell a story, lots of feeling, lots of thought, he’s a wonderful melodist

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

First out of the Sliv

Self Produced
2022

buy

Soul Station, A...

Degibri Records
2018

buy

Cliff Hangin'

Degibri Records
2015

buy

Twelve

Degibri Records
2013

buy

Israeli Song

Anzic Records
2010

buy

In The Beginning

Fresh Sound Records
2003

buy

Videos

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