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Yotam Silberstein

Yotam Silberstein was born and raised in Tel-Aviv, Israel. He started playing guitar at the age of 10, focusing mostly on rock and blues.

At the age of 15 Yotam was accepted to the prestigious "Alon" high school for the arts where he studied jazz with such great teachers as Walter Blanding and Amit Golan. During his high school years Yotam won many local competitions and was heralded as a very promising young guitarist.

After finishing high school he relocated to New York City performing regularly and studying with jazz greats Barry Harris and Kurt Rosenwinkel.

At the age of 18, Yotam served his country by joining the IDF (Israel's Army) where he served as a musical director, arranger and lead guitarist for 3 years. During his military service he gained recognition and began playing with many of Israel’s top jazz musicians

At 21 Yotam won the prestigious "Israeli jazz player of the year" competition with his trio, and was asked to perform in Italy at the renowned Umbria Jazz Festival.

The same year Yotam released his debut record on the Fresh Sound New Talent record label called, "The Arrival". The success of his highly acclaimed album enabled him to extensively tour throughout Europe and the Middle East.

In August of 2005 Yotam received a scholarship to study at the New School for jazz and contemporary music in New York City. Yotam is a regular on the jazz scene performing in many of the city's great venues with great artists like: James Moody, Curtis Fuller, Louis Hayes, Jimmy Heath, Frank Wess, Junior Mance, James Spaulding, Roy Hargrove, Pat Martino, Jorge Rossy, John Faddis, Greg Hutchinson, Antonio Hart, Slide Hampton, Avishai Cohen, Kenny Barron, Peter Bernstein, to name a few.

In September of 2005 Yotam was selected as one of 10 top guitar players to participate in the semi finals of the distinguished Thelonious Monk guitar competition.

In 2009 Yotam Released his new Album 'Next Page' on Posi-Tone Records featuring Chris Cheek on Saxophone, Sam Yahel on Hammond B3 and Willie Jones III on Drums.

Tags

3
Album Review

Yotam Silberstein: Standards Vol. 2

Read "Standards Vol. 2" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


On Standards Vol. 2 , guitarist Yotam Silberstein revisits the tradition with both reverence and invention, delivering a program of what he calls “lesser gems" -standards that have slipped through the cracks of overexposure yet hold depths still to be mined. With a lineup featuring bassist John Patitucci, drummer Billy Hart, and special guest tenor saxophonist George Coleman on one track, this album offers a thoughtful, rich journey into the overlooked corners of the jazz canon. ...

7
Album Review

Karrin Allyson: A Kiss for Brazil

Read "A Kiss for Brazil" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright


A Kiss for Brazil is Kansas-bred Grammy-nominated singer Karrin Allyson's third release to feature Brazilian music (From Paris to Rio, Concord, 1999; Imagina, Concord, 2008), and her first to showcase Brazilian musicians: Vitor Gonçalves on piano and accordion, Rafael Barata at the drums, plus the acclaimed singer-guitarist and songwriter Rosa Passos. First-call New York-based guitarist Yotam Silberstein and bassist Harvie S complete the group. The album sprang into being spontaneously, in response to a concert Passos had scheduled in New ...

2
Play This!

Yotam Silberstein: Never Let Me Go

Read "Yotam Silberstein: Never Let Me Go" reviewed by John Chacona


In his heyday, tenor saxophonist George Coleman bulled through the changes with the single-minded muscularity of heavyweight boxer Joe Frazier bearing down on an opponent. When Big George was on, the changes didn't stand a chance. He's slowed down a bit, but like many distinguished predecessors, what Coleman has lost--or abandoned--at racehorse tempos is more than compensated by the grandeur of his playing on ballads. “Never Let Me Go" seems to be a favorite of his, and guitarist ...

31
Album Review

Alex Weitz: Rule of Thirds

Read "Rule of Thirds" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Tenor saxophonist Alex Weitz's third album, Rule of Thirds, is a quartet date with guests--on seven of its nine tracks. In addition to playing tenor, Weitz wrote all but one of those numbers, Cole Porter's seductive “Love for Sale." Like many saxophonists these days, Weitz has excellent technique, which means he plays a lot of notes, and does that quite well. To his credit, he doesn't lean exclusively on that aspect of his talent, slowing the pace on several numbers ...

7
Album Review

Yotam Silberstein: Universos

Read "Universos" reviewed by Fiona Ord-Shrimpton


Universos is a trio album featuring Yotam Silberstein on guitar, accordionist and pianist Vitor Goncalves, with drummer Daniel Dor, plus special guests. It is a balance of Silberstein co-ordinating joyful Latin wellbeing and moderated contentment, an acknowledgment of the wonderful and exalted beings and moments that make him, and us, grateful to be alive. Never boring, Universos is accessible, erudite and easy-going and a great album to support good vibes during festivities of all kinds. As mood makers go, Universos ...

3
Radio & Podcasts

Guitars To The Forefront

Read "Guitars To The Forefront" reviewed by Bob Osborne


A show with guitars at the forefront. A selection of great and varied releases celebrating the guitar in modern jazz, with fascinating new music from around the world.Playlist Show Intro 00:00 So Long Seven “Mazimhaka" from Only Elephants Know Her Name (So Long Seven Records) 00:39 Gastón de la Cruz “Aldebarán" from Constelaciones (DISCOS ICM) 05:25 Steve Knight “Suspects" from Persistance (Self Released) 13:05 Yotam Silberstein “Brooklyn Frevo" from Universos (Jazz&People) 17:43 Federico Calcagno, Javier Subatin, Francesca Remigi ...

6
Album Review

Melbreeze: I Love Paris

Read "I Love Paris" reviewed by Jim Worsley


"I Love Paris" declares Melbreeze in song. It “fucking sizzles" she exclaims, adding just a tad of creative expression to the lyrics of Cole Porter. The delightful ambiance of France was the perfect vacation spot (if only in one's mind) to celebrate the unveiling of her tenth—yes, its been that many-- record. Melbreeze has long put the instrumental aspect upfront or on top. Her voice is often heard as another cog in her crafty musical structure. Ah, ...

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Event

TIJC 2025: Redefining The Boundaries Of Jazz!

TIJC 2025: Redefining The Boundaries Of Jazz!

Source: Thailand International Jazz Conference

The 16th Thailand International Jazz Conference (TIJC 2025) is ready to welcome jazz enthusiasts for a journey of musical exploration and cultural celebration. Happening from January 24–26, 2025, at the College of Music, Mahidol University (Salaya Campus), this year’s event is a melting pot of innovation, diversity, and inspiration, offering audiences a fresh perspective on jazz. A Festival for EveryoneTIJC 2025 brings a rich lineup of activities for all to enjoy. Explore the expanded Art & Craft Market, indulge in ...

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Website

All About Jazz Top 10 Tracks: March 2019

All About Jazz Top 10 Tracks: March 2019

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz features a free song every day spanning all genres of jazz, and of the 30 tracks featured in March, these ten represent our personal favorites. We also included the top ten reader favorites as indicated by total listens. Musicians and record labels can submit full length MP3s for consideration here. Enjoy! EDITOR'S PICKS Matcha Yotam Silberstein From: Future Memories 7:00 Nancy With The Laughing Face Lukas Gabric ...

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Recording

Yotam, with Roy Hargrove, Claudio Roditi and Paquito D'Rivera - Brasil (2011)

Yotam, with Roy Hargrove, Claudio Roditi and Paquito D'Rivera - Brasil (2011)

Source: Something Else!

A lesser talent than Israeli guitarist-composer Yotam might have gotten lost in this project. It's not just that Brasil, issued last week by Jazz Legacy Production, features notable stateside jazz stars like Roy Hargrove, Claudio Roditi and Paquito D'Rivera, or even that he's updating familiar compositions by the likes of Antonio Carlos Jobim, or that he completed the sessions with a group of notable Brazilian heroes like drummer-percussionist Vanderlei Pereira, pianist David Feldman and guitarist Toninho Horta. It's all of ...

233
Recording

Israeli Guitarist Yotam Fronts All-Star Lineup on JLP Debut, "Resonance" --May 4 Release Features Christian McBride, Aaron Goldberg, Greg Hutchinson A

Israeli Guitarist Yotam Fronts All-Star Lineup on JLP Debut, "Resonance" --May 4 Release Features Christian McBride, Aaron Goldberg, Greg Hutchinson A

Source: DL Media

May 4 Release Features Christian McBride Aaron Goldberg, Greg Hutchinson and Special Guest Roy Hargrove On Resonance, his debut for Jazz Legacy Productions, accomplished Israeli guitarist-composer Yotam (full name Yotam Silberstein) has one foot firmly planted in his bebop roots while also showcasing his love of Brazilian music, American blues, Jamaican reggae and Israeli folk songs. Tying this highly eclectic program together is Yotam's exceptional, rhythmically assured six-string work, which is marked by his inviting warm tones, clear articulation ...

Conor Cantrell
guitar, electric
Josh Couts
guitar

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Standards Vol. 2

Jojo Records
2025

buy

A Kiss for Brazil

Origin Records
2024

buy

RETRO Trilogy

Allegato Music
2023

buy

Rule of Thirds

Outside in Music
2023

buy

Universos

Jazz and People
2022

buy

I Love Paris

Blue Canoe Records
2021

buy

Flor de Lis

From: A Kiss for Brazil
By Yotam Silberstein

Tropicalia

From: RETRO Trilogy
By Yotam Silberstein

The Wind

From: RETRO Trilogy
By Yotam Silberstein

Matcha

From: Future Memories
By Yotam Silberstein

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