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Koby Hayon

Koby Hayon is a world renowned multi-instrumentalist and composer based in New York who plays Guitar, Oud, and Bass with the internationally acclaimed Trio Shalva.

About Me

”Jerusalem-born guitarist Koby Hayon is a remarkable artist whose music is an aural manifestation of what he feels...an overall well-blended statement...Highly recommended. “ Pete Malinverni on “Gemini”

”This recording accurately reflects life today. The challenges ahead, the turmoil around the world is evident in these compositions. Koby has performed the duty of the artist.” Kermit Driscoll

A protege of jazz virtuoso John Abercrombie guitarist Koby Hayon's technique is excellent throughout, regardless if he plays a straight-forward Jazz or crosses over to Fusion pyrotechnics.

Koby was born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel. While studying at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Tel Aviv, Hayon gathered experience as a guitarist with the DGK Trio, Hulon Big Band and many other notable groups. In 2001, Hayon moved to the United States, where he would earn his BFA in jazz performance at SUNY Purchase. There, as a recipient of the Ullendorff Memorial Foundation scholarship, he studied with jazz greats John Abercrombie, Hal Galper, Todd Coolman, and Jon Faddis.



Hayon has since played in a number of venues throughout the tri-state area as the leader of a jazz trio, duo, and quartet. His renditions of jazz standards as well as his own compositions have earned him acclaim along with several weekly gigs in the New York area.



As a sideman, he performed and toured throughout Western New York and Canada, playing and recording with countless bands, from Dixie/Swing Band, led by legendary Sol Yaged, to legendary bassist Bill Crow to various bands playing traditional Israeli music. He can be heard regularly at the 55bar, Cornelia St. Cafe, Watercolor Cafe, Detour, and other reputable New York clubs.



Most recently, Hayon has formed the Jazz Trio. Here, he fuses his heritage with his vast musical training by performing classic Israeli songs in a jazz setting, as well as his own compositions. These combine two of the many facets of Hayon's musicality: a cultural legacy along with his malleable and innovative jazz technique. Hayon released his debut album “Gemini” in the spring of 2010 along with his trio (with legendary Kermit Driscoll on Bass, and Jerome Morris on Drums), a recording that is already gaining recognition and critical acclaim. Koby is also the musical director of “Nigunim - A Festival of New Improvised Jewish Music”, this festival aims to create a stage in Westchester county for wide range of Jewish imrprovised music. The festival received an Arts Project Grant from Westchester Arts Council in 2009. Koby is also a member of the group Shalva Trio, a band with fellow Israeli musicians Nadav Snir and Assaf Glizner. This trio recorded their debut album in the summer of 2010, which will be released early in 2011.