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Eldad Tarmu

Vibraphonist, educator and composer of jazz, world, and classical music

About Me

Los Angeles born vibraphonist and composer Eldad Tarmu is currently based in New York, where he got his doctoral degree in Jazz Performance and a Master's degree in Classical Music Composition from Stony Brook University. He also holds a Master of Afro-Latin Music degree from California State University Los Angeles. Eldad has recorded and performed with some of the most significant figures in their musical genres, including Poncho Sanchez, Ernie Watts, Taj Mahal, Cybill Shepherd, Freddie Hubbard, Billie Higgins, Frank Morgan, and Ron Affif. He has toured in over twenty-five countries, in festivals and concert halls. He has released nine CDs under his own name: Aluminum Forest, Get Up Close, Transatlantic Cool Down, JaElJo, Visits, Exotic Tales, Farewell St. George, Songs for the Queen of Bohemia, and Stained Glass Stories. Get Up Close was number 20 on the US Jazz radio charts for four straight weeks. His first contemporary classical CD, Songs for the Queen Of Bohemia, features the Tabac String Quartet from Banatul Philharmonic Orchestra of Timisoara and Israeli drummer Yoni Halevy. This project crosses jazz with ethnic modes and chamber music, and has developed into a symphonic jazz project that made its debut on the stage of the Philharmonic in Timisoara on January 31, 2009. His latest CD, Stained Glass Stories, features original compositions for vibraphone and a woodwind quintet.

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because it's the only thing that makes sense to me. I was first exposed to jazz through Frank Morgan, who was a friend of my parents. One of my most cherished memories is playing with Freddie Hubbard in Hollywood, at Three Clubs. One of the best shows I ever attended was Milt Jackson's at Catalina's in Hollywood. The first jazz record I bought was Milestones.