Born in Israel on 9th June 1963

Instrument: Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxes. Clarinet, Sol, Zurna and Flutes.

Musical Training: Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem (Composition and Jazz)

Solo Albums:

Musik (2004 Enja)

Exile (2003 Enja)

Nostalgico (2001 enja )

Gilad Atzmon &The Orient House Ensemble (2000 enja )

"Juizz Muzic"(1999 FruitBeard)

"Take it or Leave it" (1999 Face Jazz)

"Spiel- Both Sides" (1995 Mci).

"Spiel Acid Jazz Band" (1995 Mci).

"Spiel" (1993 In Acoustic&H.M. Acoustica).

Raised as a secular Israeli Jew in Jerusalem, Gilad Atzmon witnessed and
empathised with the daily sufferings of Palestinians and spent 20 years
trying to resolve for himself the tensions of his background. Finally
disillusioned, he moved away from Israel and went to England to study
philosophy. Yet when he met Asaf Sirkis, a drummer from his homeland, Atzmon
recovered an interest in playing the music of the Middle East, North Africa
and Eastern Europe that had been in the back of his mind for years. Atzmon
founded the Orient House Ensemble in London and started re-defining his own
roots in the light of political reality. He now regards himself as a devoted
political artist.

Gilad Atzmon's music moves more and more towards a cultural hybrid. On his latest album, "Exile" (ENJA/TIPTOE), Atzmon and his colleagues try to
tell the story of Palestine, a country that was stormed by radical Zionists
in the 20th century. Asking himself how the Jewish - who themselves have
suffered so much and for so long - can inflict so much pain on the Other,
Atzmon takes up Israeli traditional and nationalistic melodies and turns
them around deliberately. For instance, "Al-Quds" is an Arabic
interpretation of an Israeli tune that became the anthem of the '67 War.
Beside other guests (like Tunesian singer Dhafer Youssef), "Exile" features
the moving voice of Palestinian lady singer Reem Kelani. This thrilling
vocalist will also be featured in concert with the band.

As a member of the Blockheads, Gilad has recorded and performed with such as
Ian Dury, Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Connor and Paul McCartney. As a
bandleader and reed player he has been amazing his listeners with his
powerful personal style that combines great bebop artistry and
Middle-Eastern roots in a sophisticated, sometimes ironical manner. The
Observer says: "He creates his own cross cultural idiom." Jazz UK finds his
whirlwind approach "dynamic, charismatic and exasperating". This multi-reed
talent shows "a seemingly effortless ability to demolish and rebuild any old
tune he chooses to play" (Time Out). Influenced by Cannonball Adderley's
powerful approach on the sax, Gilad's live performances are simply
breathtaking and overwhelming.