Yotam Silberstein

Yotam Silberstein is a major force in jazz guitar, a player who “improvises in a cutting tone and writes heady original tunes that seem to tug the straight-ahead jazz tradition in new directions” (New York Times). His deep study of music from South America, North Africa and the Middle East has given his music a global thrust — the great bassist John Patitucci has hailed him as “an encyclopedia of Brazilian music.” In addition to his acclaimed work as a leader on the albums Future Memories, The Village, Brasil, Resonance, Next Page and The Arrival, he has distinguished himself as a sideman on recordings by Patitucci (Irmãos de Fé), Monty Alexander (Harlem-Kingston Express Live!, a Grammy nominee), David Sanborn & Marcus Miller, the late Nathan Davis and more. Since his arrival to NYC he quickly became a sought-after figure on the New York scene, building close connections with the major talents he’d soon enlist for his varied projects: Christian McBride, Sam Yahel, Aaron Goldberg, Eric Harland and more. Yotam was discovered by the great James Moody during a workshop and invited to play with the bebop master, who used to tell the then 25-year-old guitarist — a very high compliment — that he sounds “like an old man.” Through that relationship, Silberstein came to play with the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, the Heath Brothers, George Coleman, Paquito D’Rivera, Roy Hargrove and others. He has also had the honor of working with the Brazilian masters Ivan Lins and Toninho Horta.