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Kobi Arad

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Israeli-born American musician
Kobi Aradקובי ארד
Kobi Arad (right) with Stevie Wonder (left)Kobi Arad (right) with Stevie Wonder (left)
Background information
Birth nameKobi Yakob Arad
Born (1981-10-02) October 2, 1981 (age 43)
Haifa, Israel
GenresJazz
OccupationsMusician, composer, producer
InstrumentsPiano, keyboard, synthesizer, vocals
Member ofKobi Arad Band
Musical artist

Kobi Yakob Arad (Hebrew: קובי ארד‎; born: October 2, 1981) is an Israeli-born American jazz pianist, composer, and music producer. He is known for being the pianist, vocalist, and bandleader of the Kobi Arad Band. He has won a Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Award and an Independent Music Award, both for his work as a solo artist and as part of the Kobi Arad Band. In 2024, he was nominated for a Hollywood Independent Music Award.

He has collaborated with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Cindy and Carlos Santana, Jack DeJohnette, and Roy Ayers.

Early life and education

Arad was born on October 2, 1981 and raised in Haifa, Israel. He earned his bachelor's degree at Tel Aviv University and became the first musician to earn a doctorate in contemporary improvisation and third stream from the New England Conservatory of Music.

Career

Brent Fischer (left), Kobi Arad (middle), Mickey Stevenson (co-founder of Mo--town records on right)
Brent Fischer (left), Kobi Arad (middle), Mickey Stevenson (co-founder of Motown records on right)

While living in Israel, Arad participated as a keyboardist in a trio with Asaf Sirkis and Gabriel Mayer in the 1990s. Arad also collaborated with Stevie Wonder and his manager Stephanie Andrews at the Berklee Performance Center in 2005.

Arad released his album Sparks of Understanding in 2009, which featured an appearance from drummer Bob Moses.

Arad collaborated with recording engineer Robert Margouleff on The Experience Project in 2015. In 2015, he also released the albums Webern Re-Visioned, which consisted of re-imaginings of works by Anton Webern, and Superflow, which is a collaboration with Roy Ayers, featuring bassist Jonathan Levy.

He also recorded Ellington Upside Down, a Duke Ellington tribute CD, with the Kobi Arad Band. The album’s mashup of “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “It Ain’t Mean a Thing” was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental at the 17th Independent Music Awards (2019). Arad’s album Segments went on to win Best Jazz Instrumental in the album category at the same event.

At the 2021 Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Awards, Arad won the Independent Music Artist award in Best Jazz for his performance of “Bemsha Swing” by Thelonious Monk.

On June 12th 2024 Arad was nominated for the second time for the Hollywood Independent Music Awards with 'Fields' for Best Jazz Fusion (Best piano solo / collab). This nomination features Victor Wooten, Cindy Blackman Santana, Ricky Kej & Lonnie Park.

Discography (selected)

Albums

  • Sparks of Understanding (2009)
  • Ancient Novice (2009)
  • Inner Hymns (2012)
  • The Experience Project (2015)
  • Webern Re-Visioned (2015)
  • Superflow (2015)
  • Cubism - Hyper-Dimensional Jazz (2016)
  • Flux - A Song Cycle for Solo Fender Rhodes (2017)
  • Ellington Upside Down (2017)
  • Segments (2018)
  • Intonations (2019)
  • Sketches of Monk (2020)

Awards

Year Award Work Nomination Results
2019 17th Independent Music Awards Segments (album) Best Jazz Instrumental Won
2021 Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Awards “Bemsha Swing” by Thelonious Monk Independent Music Artist award in Best Jazz Won
2022 One Earth Awards “Bemsha Swing” by Thelonious Monk Best Jazz Won
2024 Hollywood Independent Music Awards "Fields" Best piano solo / collab Pending

References

  1. אברבוך, שירה (2012-02-01). "חוקר את סודות המוזיקה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  2. ^ "Israel's Kobi Arad Band – Live Jazz at the Blue Note NYC on Jan. 29 - The Jewish Voice". thejewishvoice.com. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  3. ^ "HMMA Winners". hmmawards.com. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  4. ^ "THE 17TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". Independent Music Awards. 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  5. ^ "Kobi Arad Band - 'Ellington Upside Down'". The Music Reviews. 2017-07-20. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  6. "Kobi Arad at All About Jazz". All About Jazz. 2 October 1981. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  7. ^ אברבוך, שירה (2012-02-01). "חוקר את סודות המוזיקה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  8. Caplan, Lee (May 2017). JAZZ EDUCATION IN ISRAEL (Master of Arts thesis). Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
  9. ^ "Jazz Pianist Kobi Arad: A Career Overview". www.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  10. ^ "Jazz Reviews: Kobi Arad's 'Ancient Novice' - By Jennis Allujan — JazzTimes". Jazz Times. 2016-06-11. Archived from the original on 2016-06-11. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  11. ^ "Insight Into Kobi Arad's Masterful Musicianship". article.wn.com. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  12. "2024 Nominations Table". himawards.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  13. "Kobi Arad Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  14. ^ "Insight Into Kobi Arad's new CD: 'Cubism – Hyper Dimensional Jazz'". TunedLoud. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  15. ^ "Kobi Arad Band Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  16. "Season 7 Winners". One Earth Awards. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
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