Artists

In 2008 and 2009, Lionel Loueke was picked as top Rising Star guitarist in DownBeat magazine’s annual Critics Poll.

Praised by his mentor Herbie Hancock as “a musical painter,” Lionel Loueke combines harmonic sophistication, soaring melody, a deep knowledge of African music, and conventional and extended guitar techniques to create a warm and evocative sound of his own. JazzTimes wrote “Loueke’s lines are smartly formed and deftly executed. His ear-friendly melodicism draws both from traditional African sources and a lifetime of closely studying the likes of Jim Hall and George Benson, and his rhythmic shifts come quickly and packed with surprises.”

After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Lionel Loueke was accepted to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles where he had the opportunity to study his greatest mentors: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Terence Blanchard.

Soon after his time at the Monk Institute, Lionel Loueke began focusing exclusively on nylon-string acoustic guitar, an instrument on which he’s developed a signature voice.

Lionel Loueke released his first album In a Trance (2005) on Space Time Label, then three albums on Obliqsound Label as a leader (Virgin Forest – 2006) and with Gilfema (Gilfema – 2005, Gilfema + 2 – 2008)

His first release on Blue Note Label Karibu (2008), featuring the trio with Hancock and Wayne Shorter as special guests, won widespread critical praise.

His sophomore release for Blue Note, Mwaliko (2010), followed up acclaimed Karibu offered a series of searching, innovative, intimate duets with Angelique Kidjo, Esperanza Spalding, Richard Bona and Marcus Gilmore – artists and allies who continue to have a profound impact on Loueke’s vision as a bandleader.

Hailed as a “gentle virtuoso” by Jon Pareles of The New York Times, guitarist/vocalist Lionel Loueke follows up with Heritage (released in August 2012), co-produced by piano great and Blue Note label mate Robert Glasper. Lionel Loueke, long known for his nylon-string acoustic guitar, releases here a more electric album.

In 2015, Loueke chose to record Gaía, his remarkable rock-infused fourth Blue Note album, live in the studio with an intimate audience in attendance.

Loueke has appeared on numerous standout recordings such as Terence Blanchard’s Grammy-nominated Flow (2005) and Hancock’s Grammy-winning River: The Joni Letters (2008). Lionel appeared on recordings by such legends as Jack DeJohnette (Sound Travels), Charlie Haden (Land of the Sun), Kenny Barron (The Traveler) and Gonzalo Rubalcaba (XXI Century). He has also appeared on recordings by Esperanza Spalding, Joe Lovano, Gretchen Parlato, Avishai Cohen, Kendrick Scott and other leading peers.

He has also toured the world as a member of Hancock’s band for more than ten years and starts touring with Chick Corea this year after recording his last album to be released.

Lionel Loueke is also a member of Blue Note’s 75th anniversary all-star band with Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Kendrick Scott, Ambrose Akinmusire and Marcus Strickland.

These experiences all inform Loueke’s extraordinary work as a leader.  

Tour dates, discography and more about Lionel Loueke you can find here:

https://www.lionelloueke.com/

Upon receiving a scholarship to the prestigious New School, Yotam Silberstein moved to New York in 2005. He was a finalist in the  Thelonious MonkInternational Jazz Guitar Competition in 2005 with one critic noting: “Yotam’s tones are exquisitely old school but his playing fresh, fiery and bursting with joyful exuberance, and musically he is one heavy cat.” Jazz Times noted that Yotam has “made an impact on the scene with his precision bebop lines and fleet fingered improvisation”. All About Jazz saw a resemblance between his 2009 release, “Next Page” and “the heyday of Blue Note Records”, adding that Yotam is “forging his own path with skills and style.”

As artistically gifted as he is technically proficient, Silberstein is featured on a wide variety of critically acclaimed releases including “Resonance” and “Brasil” on the Jazz Legacy Productions label, John Patitucci‘s new trio album “Irmaos De Fe” and Monty Alexander’s Grammy-nominated “Harlem-Kingston Express Live!” among countless others.

Yotam has earned his place among the jazz elite by collaborating with such luminaries as James Moody, The Heath Brothers, Roy Hargrove, George Coleman, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Paquito D’rivera, Christian McBride, John Patitucci, and many others.

This versatile guitarist’s wheelhouse runs the sonic spectrum, including Brazilian, world music, blues and bebop. Silberstein’s showmanship wowed the Kennedy Center’s 2011 production, “Ella!” which featured Dee Dee Bridgewater, Al Jarreau, Dr. Billy Taylor and Janis Siegel. His performance earned him a return invitation for a special appearance at the KC Jazz Club. In Addition Yotam has applied his talent to composing music for film and in 2015 he received the  Sundance Time Warner award for film scoring.

Yotam Silberstein has toured as a leader in major clubs and jazz festivals in Europe, Japan, South America, Asia and the US and has received high praise for his performances. Having performed with the world’s premier talent, Yotam has honed his craft with precision, finesse and the innate artistic touch. Both the critics and his fans await the release of his new album “The Village” on Jazz & People in January . DownBeat magazine calls this “his most fully realized recording to date,” and says that Yotam “burns brightly alongside colleagues Goldberg, Rogers and Hutchinson.” 

Tour dates, discography and more about Yotam Silbertein you can find here:

https://yotammusic.com/

In 1983, John and David joined flutist Paul Horn and Paul’s son Robin Horn (on drums) for a historic tour of the Soviet Union. This was the first time in forty years that an American jazz group had been invited to play public performances in Russia. In 1993, 1995, 1998 and 2012 John returned to Russia, playing in numerous cities. His two sold-out performances in Kursk may have been the first appearances there by an American jazz musician.

John continues to tour, record and teach internationally. He has been Artist-In-Residence at schools in Germany, Indonesia, Argentina, and in the United States and Canada. He served as assistant director and performer in Oregon Public Broadcasting’s PDX Jazz Summit in 1991, and since 1995 has been a contributing columnist for a number of magazines, including “Downbeat”, “Guitar Player”, “Canadian Musician”, “Soundcheck” (Germany), and “Guitar Club” (Italy).

With bassist David Friesen, featured of the soundtracks of two Academy Award Nominated short films (Will Vinton Studios, Portland, OR, and Bosustow Studios, Los Angeles, CA)

“Through the Listening Glass” with David Friesen chosen of the “Ten Best Jazz Albums of the Decade” by the Los Angeles Examiner.

Chosen “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition” by Downbeat’s International Critic’s Poll, 1978 and 1979.

Featured in Japan’s “Swing Journal”, “The Jazz Guitar” (Ashely Mark Publishing, England), and the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler).

Appearances on BET Jazz Discovery and Guitar Series television shows.

Recording/Performance Credits: Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, Art Farmer, Conte Condoli, Herb Ellis, Bill Watrous, Mundell Lowe, George Cables, Billy Higgins, Billy Hart, Richie Cole, Paul Horn, Tom Harrrell, Don Thompson, Dave Liebman, and many others.

Tour dates, discography and more about John Stowell you can find here:

http://www.johnstowell.com/index.html

Rotem completed his studies in both classical composition and performance with honors in Tel Aviv and NYC. Rotem tours with his band most of the year playing in world- renowned festivals and clubs. He has performed in countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Poland,  Slovenia, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Israel, UK, Canada and India among others, and has given workshops around the world in top universities and schools.

He has performed at many clubs and festivals around the world such as Polanco Festival, Chutzpah Festival, Marseille Festival, Nice Festival, Exposure Festival, Montreux Festival, Utopia Music Festival, Bern Festival, Ottawa Festival and Sonora Jazz Festival to name a few.

Rotem has developed a strong online presence with over 52k followers on Instagram and 51K on YouTube. His last album, Antidote, charted on Billboard jazz at #16 and on iTunes as #1 on the jazz charts and top 100 album on all iTunes music. Upon graduation Rotem moved to NYC to pursue his passion for music. While making his first steps in the local scene he was also studying at The New School for Jazz Contemporary Music.

“The gifted guitarist combines energy, ideas and undeniable chops. A remarkable talent and a welcome new voice on the scene.”

DownBeat

“He lets you hear the innate sound of his instrument, using classic jazz-guitar tone with dynamics and a searching quality to his improvising.. He attains a kind of private language.. It’s the kind of thing that makes you listen harder.”

 New York Times, Ben Ratliff

Rotem Sivan is, with no doubt, the next guitarist of our times. He is a leader and a listener.”

Peter Bernstein 

“I am confident in Sivan’s unique abilities to transform the jazz guitar world.”

Ari Hoenig

“His style and sound bring a fresh flair and a remarkable sophistication to jazz, which transcends audiences”

Jazz Times Magazine

“Israeli guitarist Rotem Sivan has been taking the NYC club scene by storm”

Jazz Inside Magazine

“Not only is Rotem Sivan a master of jazz guitar, he is a true artist”

Just Jazz Guitar

“Rotem Sivan has carved a place for himself in the New York jazz scene through his daring improvisation, astute band leading and technical ability but above all his lyricism and musicality.

“Antidote” is a smartly crafted combination of all these qualities in a beautiful package. The album never gets boring as the trio keeps moving throughout a wide variety of moods and soundscapes with musicality always being the prevalent force. Rotem has been one of the guitar players to watch for sometime now. This album establishes him as a force on the scene.”

Antonio Sanchez 

“Rotem Sivan is one of the most creative and adventurous guitarists on the scene today. He has a great imagination and the technical abilities to communicate what is inside that imagination. More importantly, he has the courage and confidence to follow his musical ideas and impulses through to create something that is all his own.”

Peter Bernstein 

“When a statement is achieved with such precision, what’s captured attains an importance that shall last. Antidote is a special recording, and it shall fulfill many guitar aficionados without question”.

Pat Martino 

Tour dates, discography and more about Rotem Sivan you can find here:

https://www.rotemsivan.com/

He’s an extraordinary musician.”

Lionel Loueke

“His improvisations are magnificent. It’s been quite some time since an artist like this has emerged, with a creative power that’s absolutely unquestionable. Nelson, BRAVO !”

Pat Martino

“In my life there’s been a ‘before Nelson Veras’ and an ‘after Nelson Veras’: a unity of measure towards music, a singularity that confirms that in music, there will always be something that transcends us.”

Malik Mezzadri