The Eldad Tarmu Chamber Ensemble

Artist Information

Biography

The Eldad Tarmu Chamber Jazz Ensemble is a septet formed in 2006 in Timisoara, Romania, where the band leader, American vibraphonist and composer Eldad Tarmu, taught Jazz Studies for four years. The initial members of the septet were Romanian bass player Johnny Bota, Israeli drummer Yoni Halevy and The Tabac String Quartet. In September 2006, after their first tour, they recorded Tarmu's compositions under the album name Songs for the Queen of Bohemia, which was released in March 2007 in Romania and in June 2009 in the US.
This rare formation, comprised of vibraphone, bass and drums in the rhythm section, augmented by a string quartet (two violins, viola and cello), creates the ideal palette for the musical styles that can be heard in this project. Middle-Eastern melodies and grooves propelled by the Israeli drummer Yoni Halevy blend with jazz and classical harmonies to make a distinctive cutting edge world jazz chamber sound.

American vibraphonist and composer Eldad Tarmu is currently living on the East Coast after the four years of teaching Jazz Studies at Tibiscus University in Timisoara, Romania. He holds a Masters degree in Afro-Latin Music from California State University Los Angeles and has recorded and performed with some of the most significant figures in their musical genres, including Poncho Sanchez, Ernie Watts, Taj Mahal, Cybill Shepherd, Freddie Hubbard, Billy Higgins and Frank Morgan. He has performed in over twenty-five countries around the world in various festivals and concert tours and has released six CDs under his own name. His second album, Get Up Close, was number 20 on the US jazz radio charts for four straight weeks. He also is the leader, composer and orchestrator of a symphonic jazz project in Europe.
The project is currently available for touring with an American string quartet.

Instrumentation

Eldad Tarmu - vibraphone
Woodwind Quintet - flute, french horn, Clarinet, Bassoon, oboe

Discography

Songs for the Queen of Bohemia - 2008
The album is currently in airplay all across the world.

Links

• Facebook
• Last.fm
• Twitter
• ETCJE on Reverbnation
• Eldad Tarmu on All About Jazz
• MySpace

Audio

• The Invasion Song
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• Seducing the Queen of Bohemia
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• Headed East
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• The Polish Gentleman
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• Dionysus
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Video

Headed East

Photo Gallery

Press

• Amplifications of the expressive field [+ Show ]
  

  Vibraphonist Eldad Tarmu presented his unique chamber ensemble at the Chisinau Ethno Jazz festival o...Vibraphonist Eldad Tarmu presented his unique chamber ensemble at the Chisinau Ethno Jazz festival of 2007. The music was a combination of genuine swing, due to American contrabassist Richard Simon and drummer Yoni Halevi (top product of the new generation of post year 2000 Israeli jazz immigrants). No less important to their distinctive sound was the ingenuity and neo-classic sonority of a young string quartet from Romania, made up of Vlad Popescu, Ciprian Vicar, Cristian Hateg and Cristina Savescu. As we could see, the three years since Tarmu has been teaching jazz at Tibiscus University of Timisoara have been beneficial not only for his students. The virtuoso player has extended his expressive field beyond the not so rarely self-indulgent standards of the post-bop mainstream. The result is a postmodern type of synthesis, with sound infusions from the central-east-European space investigated with empathy and poetry by Tarmu. Worthy of being observed from here on in.

• Music that defies barriers [+ Show ]
  

  "Tarmu is a sensitive soloist, and the album, with its mix of jazz, balcanic perfumes and chamber mu..."Tarmu is a sensitive soloist, and the album, with its mix of jazz, balcanic perfumes and chamber music, is a find for listeners is search of a music that defies barriers."

• Elegant music, excellent arrangements
  

  "Excellent arrangements, the music is very interesting and elegantly written."

• Charming compositions superbly played [+ Show ]
  

  "An utterly charming and sophisticated compilation of outstanding original compositions superbly pla..."An utterly charming and sophisticated compilation of outstanding original compositions superbly played by some very talented musicians."

• A delightful musical experience
  

  "A delightful and unique musical experience. I hoped it would never end."

• A very refreshing sound
  

  "An excellent CD, with a very refreshing sound."

• Interesting blend of jazz and classical music
  

  "A very interesting blend of jazz and classical music."

• A pleasure for the audience [+ Show ]
  

  "The album is a pleasure for both my jazz and world music audiences, whose reaction has been very su..."The album is a pleasure for both my jazz and world music audiences, whose reaction has been very supportive."

Setlist

The Invasion Song
Seducing the Queen of Bohemia
Headed East
The Polish Gentleman
Dyonisus
Dancing for the Queen of Bohemia
Drinking with the Queen of Bohemia
Battle for the Queen of Bohemia
Escape with the Queen of Bohemia
Song for the Queen of Bohemia

Basic Requirements

Calendar