Home » Member Page

Tal Gur

Saxophonist and a composer, modern creative Jazz

About Me

My musical identity emerged while I was listening and watching the takeoffs and landings of aircrafts in an air force base where I grew up, located at the heart of the pastoral fields of Jezreel valley in Israel. I started to play the recorder, and probably the aspects of exhaling/creating sound, combined with the music I have heard at home pulled me toward the saxophone. After moving out to a small town near by, I began playing the saxophone. Over time I was drawn strongly to the world of improvisation, free expression and poetry. Gradually I taught myself to play the piano, guitar, bass and drums and started to write and compose songs. After military service I studied sound techniques in Tel-Aviv and later on I moved to Jerusalem to study at the music academy. Over time I developed an identity of a soloist who plays different styles such as jazz, folk, rock, balkan and I performed on many stages in Israel, Europe and the United States with groups such as MarshDondurma (Tel-Aviv jazz festival 2008, Israel Festival 2008, Rijeka jazz festival in Croatia, 2008, The international jazz festival Eilat 2010,), Judy Lewis quartet (three residencies at the Pizza Express jazz club, Soho, London 2004-2005, Tel-Aviv jazz festival 2006), What Cheer? Brigade (Newport folk festival 2011). I took part in albums production, theater, festivals with Israeli artist such as Shlomo Gronich, Shlomo Yidov, Alon Oleartchic, Dan Toren, Shaanan Street, Efrat Gosh to name a few. During these years I kept searching for personal style as a composer and in 2007 I have released my first album, “air portrait” which is an instrumental music journey in landscapes of memories, a working through model that is seeking for mental insights. The ongoing urge to understand my inner world and the connection to music, combined with the urge to assist people who are in need for support, brought me to pursue a Masters degree in music therapy. In 2010 I relocated in the United States, expanding my journey as a musician and as a music therapist. Since then I released my second album, Basar Ve’Dam (Flesh & Blood) which include Hebrew poets songs that deals with existential themes. In 2012 I completed a post graduate training in music therapy at NYU. I reside in NYC, working as a music therapist and making music with various bands. These days I am about to release my third album, “Under Contractions” , a modern creative jazz album which summarizes and document an ongoing search for inspiration, combined with reconstructing meaningful events I experience in life such as the birth of my first child and dealing with the Israeli-Arab conflict.

Contact Me

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because it's about being free. I was first exposed to jazz when I was playing in a jazz combo at middle school. The best show I ever attended was Dave Douglas at the Red Sea Jazz Festoval 2010 The first jazz record I bought was Light as a feather by Chick Corea My advice to new listeners: Listen to the same track over and over and seek for new meaning each time you listen.

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.