Jazz Articles about Tamir Hendelman

Christian Howes: Out of the Blue

by Ian Patterson
September 27, 2010

The violin is widely considered as the most expressive of instruments, closely approximating the human voice. It depends, however, to a large degree, on whose hands the instrument is in. Christian Howes is that rare breed of musician who makes the violin talk; using the idiom of the blues on Out of the Blue, Howes gives a virtuoso performance, as full of emotion as it is technically dazzling. Joined by guitarist Robben Ford , who lends his jazz-inflected accent to ...

Tamir Hendelman: Destinations

by Larry Taylor
September 14, 2010

Well recognized for 10 years as an important member of drummer Jeff Hamilton's Trio and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra., pianist Tamir Hendelman has also gained recognition as an accompanist for singers such as Tierney Sutton. As well, he is a go-to pianist for numerous sessions with top musicians. After the success of his first trio recording, Playground (Swing Brothers, 2008), Destinations appears on a larger label, Resonance. Here, Hendelman's trio features drummer Lewis Nash--a great drummer who, standing ...

Tamir Hendelman: Destinations

by Dr. Judith Schlesinger
September 1, 2010

Destinations, pianist Tamir Hendelman's second CD as leader, is a bold and satisfying follow-up to his 2008 debut, Playground (Swing Bros). There are many fine pianists with impressive technique and swing who are convincing in a number of styles, play with real feeling, and contribute a tuneful original or two. What increasingly distinguishes Hendelman is his gift for imaginative arranging. For one thing, he will compose an introduction that makes it difficult to predict what follows, but seems perfectly suited--even ...

Tamir Hendelman: Living a Dream

by Dr. Judith Schlesinger
December 29, 2009

One of those “overnight sensations" who's been working steadily for years, Israeli-born pianist and composer Tamir Hendelman has finally caught a rocket. A member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and the Jeff Hamilton Trio, as well as leader of his own groups, Hendelman is also a first-call arranger and accompanist for some of the best vocalists around, including Roberta Gambarini, Jackie Ryan, Angela Hagenbach and Greta Matassa. He was involved in pop icon Barbra Streisand's flirtation with jazz, playing on ...

Tamir Hendelman: Playground

by Dr. Judith Schlesinger
December 29, 2008

This is quite an unusual debut, since Israeli-born pianist Tamir Hendelman already had an international reputation years before this first CD as leader. A longstanding anchor of two famous bands (the Jeff Hamilton Trio since 2000, and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra since 2001), Hendelman is increasingly busy as arranger, sideman, and accompanist for singers such as Natalie Cole, Roberta Gambarini, Tierney Sutton, and Jackie Ryan. But perhaps the best recommendation of all comes from keyboard legend Oscar Peterson: after witnessing ...

Jackie Ryan: You and the Night and the Music

by Joel Roberts
November 15, 2008

San Francisco-based chanteuse Jackie Ryan has a smoky contralto, an impressively wide vocal range and an actress' flair for delivering dramatic lyrics. That adds up to a winning combination on this collection of love songs. Backed by a top-notch trio of Los Angeles musicians, Ryan delivers straight-ahead performances of 14 mostly familiar romantic tunes. She shows she can swing hard on Cole Porter's “You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," sing with deep feeling on a ...

Roberta Gambarini: Easy To Love

by Michael Caratti
September 5, 2007

This debut outing from Roberta Gambarini sees the Italian-born jazz vocalist pair up with two star-studded rhythm sections and legendary tenor saxophonist James Moody, to present what has to be one of the best vocal jazz albums of the decade.

Opening with Cole Porter's classic title track Gambarini's exquisite tone and masterful rhythmic phrasing are immediately on display in the first a capella section. The gradual addition of bass and brushes does little to prepare you for what happens next, ...