2014 RECIPIENT OF THE LANDAU PRIZE FOR ARTS & SCIENCES FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN JAZZ
October 7, 2015 -- Respected and loved Israeli guitarist and oudist
Amos Hoffman returns to the US with his fifth recording as a leader,
BACK TO THE CITY. Recorded in the winter of 2015 at Bunker Studios in
Brooklyn, the collection follows in the tradition of the great
guitarists of the old school – Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell –
while bringing a fresh interpretation to the language of jazz guitar.
BACK TO THE CITY features both original compositions and standards,
with stellar lineup of old friends completing the : bassist Omer
Avital, drummer Vince Ector, saxophonist Asaf Yuria, trumpeter Duane
Eubanks and special guest Itai Kriss on flute.
Born in Jerusalem, Hoffman lived and worked in New York City
throughout most of the 1990s, then spent 14 years in Israel. Picking
up the guitar at the age of six, followed by oud a short time after,
Hoffman studied privately and later attended the prestigious Rubin
Academy of Music in Jerusalem.
Hoffman's search for new musical experiences led him first to
Amsterdam, then on to New York City, where he became an integral part
of the original wave of Israeli musicians in the city, fixtures on its
jazz (and Latin jazz) scene. Hoffman’s professional association with
1990s young lions and musical groundbreakers like bassist Avishai
Cohen, pianist Jason Lindner and Chilean singer Claudia Acuña, as
well as Cuban/Latin musicians who took over the downtown scene of New
York’s Lower East Side during that time, helped spread his name
worldwide as a pioneer fusing the rhythms and melodic themes of the
Middle East with modern jazz guitar. Hoffman also served as mentor and
teacher to many of today’s young Israeli rising stars such as Gilad
Hekselman, Yotam Silberstein, Dida Pelled, Rotem Sivan, Asaf Yuria and
Shai Maestro.
“Great program by Amos Hoffman and his band! How refreshing to hear
someone who has captured the essence and mastery of the great ones.
Masterful composing, arranging, and playing is not an easy task to
pull off in one package, but it is so well executed here. Whether bop,
blues, or ballads, Amos has captured in this recording what makes for
great listening, for a long time to come!" -Wycliffe Gordon
“This fifth recording by Israeli-born, US-based guitarist and oud
player Amos Hoffman represents a return — not only to North America,
but to a straight-ahead jazz concept. Following three oud-oriented
albums, Back to the City presents us with Hoffman's distinctive
renditions of four beloved jazz standards, as well as six new
originals which have the feeling of well-loved, familiar tunes.” –
Sharonne Cohen (album liner notes)
Visit Amos Hoffman on the Web – amoshoffman.com
Media Inquiries – Kim Smith PR – ksmithpr@earthlink.net
Booking Inquiries – management@amoshoffman.com
