Warming up for the Jazz Festival
Hailed as one of the most promising guitarists on the New York jazz scene ever since he arrived there in 2004, Gilad Hekselman originally started out studying piano as a young child, picking up the guitar at the age of nine and eventually getting to...
Hailed as one of the most promising guitarists on the New York jazz scene ever since he arrived there in 2004, Gilad Hekselman originally started out studying piano as a young child, picking up the guitar at the age of nine and eventually getting to perform regularly with a band on a weekly children’s TV programme.
The rhythmic shapes he creates with his guitar flow effortlessly over enticing melodies laced with solos
Later, he attended the prestigious Thelma Yellin School of Arts, where he graduated with excellence from the jazz department. He was awarded the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship for studies abroad, which enabled him to attend The New School in New York where, in 2008, he completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in performing arts.
In the space of just a few years, Hekselman has earned a reputation as a jazz guitarist who successfully ventures within, beyond and around the genre without losing any of its essence. The rhythmic shapes he creates with his guitar flow effortlessly over enticing melodies laced with solos that enhance rather than dominate the music.
The Israeli-born guitarist has shared the stage with some of the top names on the New York jazz scene, such as Esperanza Spalding, Tigran Hamasyan, Avishai Cohen, Ari Hoenig, Chris Potter and John Scofield, to name but a few.
He is also constantly touring worldwide and has played most of the major festivals, among them Montreux (where he opened for Paco de Lucia in 2006), North Sea, Montreal and San Francisco, and of course, all the major jazz clubs in the Big Apple.
In 2005, Hekselman won the Gibson Montreux International Guitar Competition, releasing his debut album Splitlife the following year. The album, recorded with bassist Joe Martin and drummer Ari Hoenig, received rave reviews from the press, a feat he repeated with his second album, 2008’s Words Unspoken.
Three years ago, Hekselman recorded his third album, Hearts Wide Open. Once again, the album received great reviews globally and featured in several end-of-year Best Album lists.
His latest album, This Just In, was released last April and again features Martin who, along with Jeff Ballard and Ben Wendel, will be accompanying Hekselman when he plays at the 2013 Malta Jazz Festival on July 20.
The 23rd edition of the Malta Jazz Festival starts on July 18 at Ta’ Liesse in Valletta.
www.maltajazzfestival.org