Amos Hoffman
Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel | INDIE
Music
Press
“Israeli guitarist and oudist Amos Hoffman reaches a fine balance between his main instruments on this fine recording. The guitar sounds natural and organic in Middle-eastern scales, while the oud fits perfectly in the swinging jazz sensibilities. Hoffman articulates a clear and melodic outline on both instruments, while he crosses genres.” - AAJ
“Amos Hoffman possède un son et un style unique, marque de tous les grands jazzmen, et livre avec ce disque une musique souvent festive, parfois mélancolique, toujours inspirée. La superbe pochette de l'album, hommage à Moshe Hoffman, père du musicien et célèbre peintre et sculpteur, ajoute encore à la beauté de "Carving".” - Jewpop.com
“The rich, sophisticated compositions are performed by a spare group that affords his playing plenty of room, and mixes his love of Middle Eastern music and jazz on these compositions…It's good, very good indeed, possibly one of the most successful music fusions recorded” - Allmusic.com
“Hoffman’s primary instrument on Evolution is the oud, and many of the songs are built on Middle Eastern scales, which Hoffman’s compositions infuse with African rhythms. The result is a heady mixture of jazz-based improvisation and exotic melodies … challenging, unusual, and invigorating. ” - Soundstage AV
Discography
Amos Hoffman – Carving , Razdaz Recordz 2010; Evolution , Razdaz Recordz 2008; Na’ama, Magada Records 2006; The Dreamer, Fresh Sound/New Talent 1999
Avishai Cohen – Seven Seas 2011, Aurora 2009, Sha’ot Regiot 2008, Continuo 2006, Razdaz Records, Colors, 2000; Devotion, 1999; Adama, 1998 Stretch Records
Alon Farber – Hagiga Fresh Sound/New Talent 2006
Rea Bar Nes – Remember Forget, Independent release 2006
3 Cohens – One, Independent release 2003
Quartet East - Yeah! Independent release 2002
Sam Newsome and Global Unity, Columbia 1999
Jay Collins - Cross Culture, Loose Leaf Records 1999
Marya Lawrence - All the Way Back, Oxygen Music Works 1998
Ben Wolfe -13 Sketches, Mons Records 1997
Photos
Bio
Tel Aviv based guitarist and oudist Amos Hoffman started playing guitar at the age of 6, and oud a few years later. He studied guitar privately, and later attended the prestigious Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem. His search for new musical experiences led him first to Amsterdam, and then to New York City, where he played jazz with both established musicians like Dennis Charles, Evelyn Blakey and Juma Santos and up and coming talents like Jason Lindler, bassist Avishai Cohen, and Duane Eubanks.
In 1998, he recorded his first solo album, The Dreamer for the Spanish Label, Fresh Sound/New Talent. He has also contributed to numerous other projects, including Ben Wolfe's 13 Sketches 1997, Jay Collins' Cross Culture 1999, Sam Newsome 1999 and bassist Avishai Cohen's Aurora 2009, Sensitive Hours 2008, Continuo 2006, Colors 2000 Devotion 1999 and Adama 1998.
After returning to Israel at the end of 1999, he began to compose the music that would eventually become the tracks on Na'ama, released in 2006 (Magda). On Na’ama, Hoffman plays homage to the traditions of classical Arabic music - the taqasim (improvisation) and the maqam (scales). All 12 tracks are original compositions, inspired by the great Arab composers of the 20th Century.
Further pursuing his passion for combining jazz with Middle Eastern music, his third release, Evolution (RazDaz 2008), is a ten track exploration of melodies and rhythms that incorporates compositional and improvisational elements common to both musical genres. His long-time friend and musical associate Avishai Cohen, who plays contrabass, piano and contributes vocals, joins him on Evolution.
Hoffman’s latest release, Carving (RazDaz 2010) takes another step westward, featuring guitar on half of the tracks, and strengthening the rhythm section by adding a drummer to the lineup. Amos is currently touring and promoting Carving.
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