GILAD HEKSELMAN
Released October world-wide by JazzVillage (harmonia mundi)
Gilad Hekselman, guitar Joe Martin, bass Marcus Gilmore, drums Guest : Jeff Ballard, drums
Patricia JOHNSTON | Manager TAKLIT ARTIST & CONCERT MANAGEMENT 93 rue Jean Jaurès, 92800 PUTEAUX France Tél. : 00 33 (0)6 42 73 06 70 [email protected] | www.taklit.net
BIOGRAPHY GILAD HEKSELMAN
Gilad Hekselman has been developing a reputation as one of the most promising guitarists in New York since his arrival in 2004. In only a few years this native Israeli has shared the stage with some of the greatest artists in the New York 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.
He has played all the major jazz clubs in New York including the Blue Note, The Jazz Standard, Dizzy's Club and Smalls. He is constantly touring world-wide and has played most major jazz festivals including Montreux, North Sea, Montreal and San Francisco.
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 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 with Gilad Hekselman, Joe Martin, and Marcus Gilmore also features Mark Turner on three titles. It plays out like a news broadcast, peppered with short, improvised news breaks that highlight his compositions and their openness to a multitude of influences. Jazz, rock, folk, African, Israeli and North Indian classical music are dispersed throughout the album where Gilad's harmonic creativity and rhythmic mastery prove to be natural elements of the melodic virtuosity that has become his trademark.
In October 2015, Gilad will release his 4th album under the harmonia mundi banner (JazzVillage). This new album entitled “Homes”, is a wonderful exploration of his ports of call, capturing their distinct musical personalities as well as the human values they represent. Accompanied by his loyal sidemen who have been with him for almost a decade, as well as a prestigious special guest, the guitarist reveals the secrets behind his influences and welcomes us into the innermost parts of his Homes.
Born in Israel in 1983, Gilad studied classical piano from age six and began studying guitar at the age of 9. From age12 to 14 he performed regularly with the band of a weekly children's television show.He attended the prestigious Thelma Yellin School of Arts, graduating with excellence from the jazz department at age18. Gilad received the America – Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship for studies abroad to attend The New School in New York, where he completed a BFA degree in performing arts in 2008.
Gilad performs on handcrafted guitars made by Victor Baker.
PRESS EXCERPTS GILAD HEKSELMAN
"Gilad Hekselman has a vision of modern jazz that’s harmonically fluent but not averse to simple melody or gentle, approachable effect... a rewarding new album, “Homes". — NATE CHINEN, The New York Times
"There may not be any stronger melodies in jazz today than the lines flowing out of Gilad Hekselman's guitar. Hekselman's new album, Homes, displays his melodicism and songwriting as well as the continued growth of his trio with Joe Martin on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums" — BEN GRAY, Nextbop
"Hekselman... often creates the illusion of a second guitarist ghosting his lines.... it sounds as if the spectral guitarist is actually accompanying him." — TOM GREENLAND, The New York City Jazz Record
Homes comes at the highest recommendation. In a world where cookie cutter music is king and art has taken a back seat, Gilad Hekselman and his crew boldly stand up and create music with true sincerity, soul and un-adulterated creativity. Learnjazzstandards.com
DownBeat Magazine classified Gilad Hekselman as the N°5 rising star on the international jazz scene last year
France’s primary jazz magazine JazzMan has singled him out as « a leader and one of the best representatives of a talented generation of Israeli artists ».
French journalist Ludovic Florin recently wrote that Gilad is « rhythmically, the most gifted guitarist of the century ».
"...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... with a quiet assertiveness and expertise that is winning throughout..." Laurel Gross, All About Jazz
"The feeling in a small club quickly grows intense when GILAD HEKSELMAN, an Israeli jazz guitarist in his mid-20s, steps up to improvise. Since arriving in New York five years ago, Mr. Hekselman has set himself roughly up in the line of Pat Metheny and Kurt Rosenwinkel, with a warm and clean guitar tone, clear articulation, crazily extended improvisational ideas..." Ben Ratliff, New York Times
"...Mr. Hekselman, playing complex chords with extended harmony — the higher science of jazz academia, but done with passion — moved his solo toward a peak. About two minutes in, the audience began yelling." Ben Ratliff, New York Times
"Mr. Hekselman is a guitarist who favors a clarity of tone and purpose, and who surrounds himself with strong talent." Nate Chinen, New York Times
"...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." David Adler, Jazz Times
"Hekselman is a subtle player who holds the spotlight with tasteful runs. He seeks out transcendental lines and often finds them... Hekselman doesn't clamor for attention. His playing, though, is quietly persuasive." Karl Stark, Philadelphia Inquirer
"The debut recording by guitarist Gilad Hekselman has the youth displaying a mature sound, the ability to think fast, and an inventive use of space". Scott Yanow, Allmusic
A beautiful album from Gilad Hekselman, one of the best guitarists of a new generation of talented musicians. JAZZMAG – France
TRACK LISTING
1. Homes 2. Verona 3. KeeDee 4. Home E-minor 5. Space 6. Cosmic Patience 7. Eyes to See 8. Parisian Thoroughfare 9. Samba em Preludio 10. Last Train Home 11. Dove Song 12. Place Like No Home
All tracks composed by Gilad Hekselman except: 8-Bud Powell, 9-Baden Powell, 1- Pat Metheny 11-Matti Caspi. GUEST : Jeff Ballard – drums: track 3 & 10
CD CREDITS
Album title : « HOMES » by Gilad Hekselman Artists : Gilad Hekselman (guitar) Joe Martin (bass) Marcus Gilmore (drums) Jeff Ballard (drums) Record Label : Jazz Village http://www.jazzvillagemusic.com Distributor : Harmonia Mundi Release date: 6 octobre 2015 (Europe) 9 octobr 2015 (Amérique du nord) Photo Credits : Josh Goleman (royalty free, please credit the photographer for photo use) Official Clip: Gilad Hekselman Trio Live http://www.youtube.com/user/JazzVillageMusic & http://youtu.be/nsZdgWucIKU Web site : www.giladhekselman.com
Contact Information:
Management : Patricia Johnston – [email protected] | www.taklit.net Tél : 33 (0)1.45.49.11.42 Mobile : 33 (0)6.42.73.06.70 Label Europe : Céline Breugnon - [email protected] Publicist France: Arielle Bertoud : Mobile : 00 33 (0)6 09 70 72 18 | [email protected] Publicist N. America : Jason Paul Harmon Byrne + 33 (646) 259 2105 | [email protected] Booking France: Nina Paradiso Ballard [email protected] | Mobile +33 (0)6.65.41.76.62 Booking (DK,DE + ): Tommy Høeg | +45 2685 9682 | [email protected]