Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
“Rafi Malkiel leads a versatile ensemble with unique instrumentation(trombone/euphonium with bassoon, clarinet, tenor sax, a non-doubling flute player - a rarity in itself, two percussionists, piano, acoustic bass, and drums) with a far-ranging repertoire that at its base never strays too far away from the Latin-related rhythms of Cuba and South America that ultimately serve as the binding element to his fresh group concept that plays music as danceable as it is listenable. I'm glad I finally had a chance to sit down and listen to this new fantastic debut CD which will surely be a forerunner for Best Latin Jazz release come the end of this year, even though it offers so much more than what is customarily expected from this generic category label. And hearing the band live reveals even more...Thanks so much for the music and for releasing this unique CD that already sticks out amongst the masses.“ - Laurence Donohue-Greene, Managing Editor, All About Jazz-New York
”Nineteen musicians are heard on Rafi's impressive debut album, My Island, but his trombone is the standout voice. Israeli by birth, he's played Broadway shows, film soundtracks, overseas festivals and a bunch of concerts around town. His primary interest these days lies in Latin sounds. Catch him all over town this month.”
- Paul Blair, Hot House Magazine, Featured Artists April Issue
- Rock Paper Scissors, La Cumbiamba Eneye, Matrioneta CD Review , Chonta Records
“The superb Rafi Malkiel Quintet’s program of music by Jewish American composers…”
- Masha Leon, The Jewish Daily Forward, 1.14.2005
“On behalf of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, I extend our warmest appreciation for your outstanding concert here. Our audience was delighted by your performance and absolutely raved about the concert.”
- Janet W. Solinger, Vice President, Public Programs, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC 12.4.
“…trombonist Rafi Malkiel soloing heatedly.”
- Performance review of Jason Lindner’s Big Band 10th anniversary celebration
“…el virtuoso judio del bombardino Rafi Malkiel…” (The Jewish bombardino virtuoso Rafi Malkiel)
- Gary Dominguez www.laconga.org, Folklore Urbano, Dance Chonta Records
“I am convinced Rafi Malkiel is one of the best euphonium players in the world in the area of Latin music.”
- Toto La Momposina 10.15.2004, Grammy Nominee 2002
“…blasting bombardino solos by Refael Malkiel”
- Rock Paper Scissors, La Cumbiamba eNeye, Matrioneta CD Review, Chonta Records
Recommended Jazz Trombonists PBS, “Jazz”, a film by Ken Burns.
Rafi Malkiel http://www.pbs.org/jazz/beat/buyers_trombone.htm
- http://www.pbs.org/jazz/beat/buyers_trombone.htm
Discography
Rafi malkiel
My Island
Raftone NYC 2007
Baile
Pablo Mayor and Folklore Urbano
Chonta, New York 2005
Marioneta
La Cumbiamba Eneye
Cumbiamba, NY 2005
Paciencia
Nu Guajiro
Nu Guajiro, NY 2004
Ay! Que Rico
Jose Conde y Ola Fresca
Pipiki, New York 2004
Aviso
Pablo Mayor and Folklore Urbano
New York 2003
Out of This World
2 CD Set of 10 years of WOMAD in Australia
WOMAD, Australia 2003
Out of This World
WOMAD New Zealand 2003
WOMAD, New Zealand 2003
Fiesta En El Bronx
Wayne Gorbea’s Salsa Picante
Shanachie, NYC 2002
20 Aòos De Toto La Momposina, Antology 1983-2002
Toto La Momposina
Yard High/Real World, England 2002
Live from New York
Salsa Picante
WayneGo, New York 2002
Itamar Ziegler
Itamar Ziegler
NYC 2002
Tagidu Mashehu
Tomer Yosef
Phonokol 2001
Constant Chase
Avi Leibovich
Fresh Sound NYC 2001
Saboreando
Wayne Gorbea & Salsa Picante
Shanachie Records, 2000 NYC
The Penniless Wilds
The Penniless Wilds
Vibromonk Records, 2000 NYC
Hamechona Shel Hagroove
Hadag Nachash
Hed Artzi, Tel Aviv 2000
Pueblo Alegre
Mo' Guajiro
1999 NYC
Out of this World
Loren Schoenberg and His Jazz Orc.
Montreux Jazz, 1998 NYC
Mika Karni
Mika Karni
Helicon, Tel Aviv 1997
Erev Erev
Shalom Chanoch
NMC Records, Tel Aviv 1997
A story of Multiplicity
BIMWO & Marilyn Mazur
Dacapo Records, Copenhagen 1997
BIMWO Swing
BIMWO & Ray Anderson
Dacapo Records, Copenhagen 1997
Blue Bag
Harold Rubin
Digital Hippy Records, Tel Aviv 1996
Miscellaneous Items
Ram-Rimon Project
Jazzis Records, Israel 1995
Latin Hebrew Latin
Atraf
Hed Arzi Records, Tel Aviv 1994
Shmil Berniker & Friends
Shmil Berniker
Gizmo Records, Jerusalem 1993
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Composer and trombonist Rafi Malkiel, originally from Jerusalem, is an active musician in both the Jazz and Latin scenes in New York City. Leading his ensemble, Rafi plays original compositions, as well as unique arrangements fusing Jazz and Latin-American standards with Afro-Caribbean rhythms. The Rafi Malkiel Ensemble performs extensively in venues such as Makor, Smalls, the 92 Street Y, The Corcoran Gallery of Arts in Washington, D.C, The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and more.
Rafi was cited in the Recommended Jazz Trombonists list in PBS’ website Jazz, a film by Ken Burns, as well as in The Young Guns of Jazz, trumpeting the best of a new generation, by Chip Deffaa in the New York Post, July 2001. Rafi plays with Willie Colon, Jason Lindner’s Big Band and with Grammy-nominated Colombian singer Toto La Momposina, and he participated in Reggie Workman’s John Coltrane Africa Brass Live project. He has played in New York City in venues such as Madison Square Garden, Radio City, Town Hall, Symphony Space, the Carlyle Hotel with Bobby Short, Sweet Basil, SOB’s, and Small’s. Rafi has performed in the Broadway shows The Color Purple and in the Tony-award winning musical Urinetown. He has performed in numerous festivals around the world such as the JVC Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Summer Stage, WOMAD festivals in Greece, New Zealand, and Australia, the Sydney Festival in Australia, and the Red Sea International Jazz Festival in Israel. He has recorded over forty Jazz, Latin, and Rock albums with notable artists such as Ray Anderson, Salsa Picante, Toto La Momposina, Lauryn Hill and Loren Schoenberg.
Rafi is releasing his debut solo album titled My Island. The album features him as a composer, arranger, band leader, trombone and euphonium player. It also features some of the best Jazz and Latin musicians in New York City, including legendary bassist Andy Gonzalez, percussionist Anthony Carrillo, tuba player Howard Johnson, clarinetist Anat Cohen and many more.
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