Home » Staff Directory » Member Page
Eli Degibri
Member Since: 2007 | Location: New York City | Page Views: 3,964 
About Me
Internationally recognized, Tel Aviv-based saxophonist, composer, and bandleader, alumnus of the Herbie Hancock Sextet and Al Foster's band, whose 10th album "My One and Only Love" arrives November 3, 2026.
Eli Degibri is an internationally recognized, Tel Aviv-based saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. He has recorded and performed extensively since the mid-1990s, was a member of Herbie Hancock's Sextet from 1999 to 2002, and played in the band of the legendary drummer Al Foster from 2002 to 2011. Hancock called him “a very talented composer, arranger, and performer,” and JazzTimes' Bill Milkowski described “an exceptionally melodic improviser with a big, bold tenor tone.” He has received Israel's Prime Minister Award for Jazz Composition and the Landau Award for Jazz Performance. His albums as a leader include Twelve (2013); Cliff Hangin' (2015), which received a 5-star review from DownBeat; Soul Station (2018), a tribute to Hank Mobley; and Henri and Rachel (2022), named for his parents. He took part in UNESCO's first International Jazz Day at the UN General Assembly in New York in 2012, performed at the White House in 2016 as a guest of President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama for the all-star International Jazz Day concert, and appeared at the Jazz Day celebrations hosted by Herbie Hancock in St. Petersburg (2018) and Melbourne (2019). Since 2018 he has headed the Jazz Studies department at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Degibri leads a quartet with pianist Tom Oren, bassist Alon Near, and drummer Eviatar Slivnik, the lineup heard on Henri and Rachel and on the new record. His 10th album, “My One and Only Love” (Degibri Records), was recorded in New York in January 2023, during the quartet's run at the Blue Note. It features seven Degibri originals alongside the title track and Cole Porter's “Love For Sale.” The title track is released as a single on October 20, 2026, followed by “Is There A Doctor In The House” on October 27, and the full album on November 3, 2026. Leading up to the release, Degibri's video series The Road to Ten looks back at the music, stories, and moments that brought him here. Upcoming: Red Sea Jazz Festival, November 2026.
Articles
Jazz Near You
Your Personal Calendar
✓ Receives Newsletter
Upload Single or Recurring Event
Upload Several Events At Once
Photos
Favorite Musicians / Bands
My Jazz Story
My House Concert Story
Favorite Places to See Jazz
Favorite Genres
Favorite Columns
Favorite Writers
News Announcements
- First Michael Brecker Saxophone Competition Announced
- Eli Degibri Preps You For The Red Sea Jazz Festival
MORE NEWS
Theme Song
Playlist
This page was last updated on 2026-10-16.
