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.
Work History:
2006: Recording the Artie Fishel project, Touring with the Gilad Atzmon new 4tet. Touring with Nicolas Meier Group, Touring with the OHE, Touring with Tango Siempre, Recording with Laibach (Mute,EMI). Recording with Tango Siempre, Composing Music for the Northern Stage. Later in the year will tour with the Blockheads and Dylan Howe Jazz Quintet.
2005: Touring Europe extensively playing MusiK. My One and Only Love is published in the UK (Saqi Books). Foreign rights are sold in Arabic, German, Portuguese, Italian and Russian. Gilad dedicates more and more time to critical writings His philosophical writing are now translated into Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic, Swedish, Russian and Hebrew.
2004: The Orient House Ensemble is touring extensively all over Europe. Writing for many dissident magazines such as Counterpunch as well as mainstream press (The Guardian). On October 2004 MusiK is launched. Atzmon tours the UK with the OHE playing MusiK. MusiK is announced 2004 best album of the year (Time Out). Musik is nominated Best Album of the Year 2004 (BBC Jazz Awards)
2003: Launching Exile album touring all over the world. Guide to the Perplexed was published in: Germany, Spain Argentina and Portugal. Recorded with Robert Wyatt (Cuckooland). Exile-Best Jazz Album Of The Year, BBC Jazz Award 2003. Exile-Best Jazz Album of the Year (2003), Time Out Magazine. Exile -Number 14th Best Album of the Year (2003), The Observer. Exile -Number 48 Best Album of the Year (2003), Jazz Time, USA.
2002: The Orient House ensample touring all over the world playing in major European festival and clubs. Recording of a new orient album EXILE (release April 2003) with the fabulous Palestinian singer Reem Kelani . Guide to the perplexed published in the UK (Serpent's Tail) The rights for Gilad's 'book were sold in: Germany. France. Portugal. Latin America, Spain, Japan, Russia, Hungary
Recorded Swift with Simon Fisher Turner (Mute Records)
Gilad plays and records with the Blockheads..
2001:
Stopped most of his activity as a session artist and focused on recording and touring with the 'Orient House Ensample'. Gilad regards the OHE as a political anti Zionist viachele. Gilad published his first book 'A Guide to the Perplexed' In Israel (Keter Publisher). The book was banned within weeks. Recorded and released of Nostalgico (2001 Enja )
Gilad continued to play with the Blockheads.
2000:
Recording with: As a member of the Blockheads recorded / performed with Ian Dury, Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Connor, Shane McGowan and many more. Recording & performing with Simon Fisher Turner, release of a new album "Gilad Atzmon & the Orient House ensemble" (ENJA Records) Performing with the ensemble in the prestigious UK festivals and stages as well as in Europe and Mid' east. Playing with Bill Le Sage's "The Be-Bop Preservation society".
1999:
Recording with Tim Richards ("Great Spirit"), Mike Scott (Water Boyes), Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Little Mothers, Simon Fisher Turner Touring with Ian Dury in the UK, Ireland and Europe, Touring With "Great Spirit". Release of a Solo Trio album 'Take It Or Leave It" ("Face Jazz"). Release of a dance EP ; 'Juizz Music' ("Fruit Beard"). Touring In the UK, Europe and Israel. Playing at Brighton, Birmingham,Grimsby Greenwich, Appleby and Coventry international Jazz Festivals.
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1996- 1998:
Toured with Ian Dury & the Blockheads, In UK &Europe, Awarded HMV top Dog Award at the Birmingham Int' Jazz Festival. Writing Dance Material with DJ Face. Toured Japan with Simon Turner. Playing in the UK with prominent UK Jazz musicians including Gerard Presencer, Robin Asplaned, Jim Mullen. Appeared with his own quartet at prestigious London venues including the Barbican, Smolenski's, Pizza Express, Vortex Jazz Bar. Toured with "Jazz Africa" and Didgattack (Gail Thompson), toured with Kenwood Dennard in the Middle East, recorded with Simmon Turner. Played in Berlin , Red Sea,Greenwich International Jazz festival.
1994-1996:
Toured Israel and Europe with the "Gilad Atzmon Quartet" and "Spiel Acid Jazz Band". Played at the Red Sea Festival, Tel Aviv Jazz Blues &Videotape Int' Fes'. Played in Leipzig and Zurich open air fes' as well as Berlin, Dresden and Prauge.
Composition for modern Ballet, films and and original music for BBC Radio 4. Musical producer and arranger for Si Hyman's album 'Rendezvous' (NMC).
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0000-1994:
Acted as a producer-arranger for various Israeli Dance & Rock Projects,
performing in Europe and the USA playing ethnic Jewish soul music. Highly
involved in the Israeli musical scene. Recording for 'Ofra Haza' (Za'l),
Y. Poliker (She-ivade Lechaim Arukim) and many others. Touring with Memphis
Slim and supporting many international jazz names such as Jack De Johnette,
Michel Petrucciani, Richie Byrach and many others.