Kobi Arad | |
---|---|
![]() Kobi Arad (right) with
Stevie Wonder (left) | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Kobi Yakob Arad |
Born | Haifa, Israel | October 2, 1981
Genres | Jazz |
Occupations | Musician, composer, producer |
Instruments | Piano, keyboard, synthesizer, vocals |
Member of | Kobi Arad Band |
Kobi Yakob Arad (Hebrew: קובי ארד; born: October 2, 1981) is an Israeli-born [1] American jazz pianist, composer, and music producer. He is known for being the pianist, vocalist, and bandleader of the Kobi Arad Band. [2] He has won a Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Award [3] and an Independent Music Award, [4] both for his work as a solo artist and as part of the Kobi Arad Band. In 2024, he was nominated for a Hollywood Independent Music Award.
He has collaborated with artists such as Stevie Wonder, [5] Cindy and Carlos Santana, Jack DeJohnette, and Roy Ayers. [2]
Arad was born on October 2, 1981 [6] and raised in Haifa, Israel. [7] He earned his bachelor's degree at Tel Aviv University and became the first musician to earn a doctorate in contemporary improvisation and third stream from the New England Conservatory of Music. [2] [7]
While living in Israel, Arad participated as a keyboardist in a trio with Asaf Sirkis and Gabriel Mayer in the 1990s. [8] Arad also collaborated with Stevie Wonder and his manager Stephanie Andrews at the Berklee Performance Center in 2005. [9]
Arad released his album Sparks of Understanding in 2009, which featured an appearance from drummer Bob Moses. [10]
Arad collaborated with recording engineer Robert Margouleff on The Experience Project in 2015. [11] In 2015, he also released the albums Webern Re-Visioned, which consisted of re-imaginings of works by Anton Webern, and Superflow, which is a collaboration with Roy Ayers, featuring bassist Jonathan Levy. [9]
He also recorded Ellington Upside Down, a Duke Ellington tribute CD, with the Kobi Arad Band. [5] The album’s mashup of “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “It Ain’t Mean a Thing” was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental at the 17th Independent Music Awards (2019). [4] Arad’s album Segments went on to win Best Jazz Instrumental in the album category at the same event. [4]
At the 2021 Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Awards, Arad won the Independent Music Artist award in Best Jazz for his performance of “Bemsha Swing” by Thelonious Monk. [3]
On June 12th 2024 Arad was nominated for the second time for the Hollywood Independent Music Awards with 'Fields' for Best Jazz Fusion (Best piano solo / collab). This nomination features Victor Wooten, Cindy Blackman Santana, Ricky Kej & Lonnie Park. [12]
Year | Award | Work | Nomination | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 17th Independent Music Awards | Segments (album) | Best Jazz Instrumental | Won |
2021 | Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Awards | “Bemsha Swing” by Thelonious Monk | Independent Music Artist award in Best Jazz | Won |
2022 | One Earth Awards | “Bemsha Swing” by Thelonious Monk | Best Jazz | Won [16] |
2024 | Hollywood Independent Music Awards | "Fields" | Best piano solo / collab | Pending |
Kobi Arad | |
---|---|
![]() Kobi Arad (right) with
Stevie Wonder (left) | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Kobi Yakob Arad |
Born | Haifa, Israel | October 2, 1981
Genres | Jazz |
Occupations | Musician, composer, producer |
Instruments | Piano, keyboard, synthesizer, vocals |
Member of | Kobi Arad Band |
Kobi Yakob Arad (Hebrew: קובי ארד; born: October 2, 1981) is an Israeli-born [1] American jazz pianist, composer, and music producer. He is known for being the pianist, vocalist, and bandleader of the Kobi Arad Band. [2] He has won a Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Award [3] and an Independent Music Award, [4] both for his work as a solo artist and as part of the Kobi Arad Band. In 2024, he was nominated for a Hollywood Independent Music Award.
He has collaborated with artists such as Stevie Wonder, [5] Cindy and Carlos Santana, Jack DeJohnette, and Roy Ayers. [2]
Arad was born on October 2, 1981 [6] and raised in Haifa, Israel. [7] He earned his bachelor's degree at Tel Aviv University and became the first musician to earn a doctorate in contemporary improvisation and third stream from the New England Conservatory of Music. [2] [7]
While living in Israel, Arad participated as a keyboardist in a trio with Asaf Sirkis and Gabriel Mayer in the 1990s. [8] Arad also collaborated with Stevie Wonder and his manager Stephanie Andrews at the Berklee Performance Center in 2005. [9]
Arad released his album Sparks of Understanding in 2009, which featured an appearance from drummer Bob Moses. [10]
Arad collaborated with recording engineer Robert Margouleff on The Experience Project in 2015. [11] In 2015, he also released the albums Webern Re-Visioned, which consisted of re-imaginings of works by Anton Webern, and Superflow, which is a collaboration with Roy Ayers, featuring bassist Jonathan Levy. [9]
He also recorded Ellington Upside Down, a Duke Ellington tribute CD, with the Kobi Arad Band. [5] The album’s mashup of “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “It Ain’t Mean a Thing” was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental at the 17th Independent Music Awards (2019). [4] Arad’s album Segments went on to win Best Jazz Instrumental in the album category at the same event. [4]
At the 2021 Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Awards, Arad won the Independent Music Artist award in Best Jazz for his performance of “Bemsha Swing” by Thelonious Monk. [3]
On June 12th 2024 Arad was nominated for the second time for the Hollywood Independent Music Awards with 'Fields' for Best Jazz Fusion (Best piano solo / collab). This nomination features Victor Wooten, Cindy Blackman Santana, Ricky Kej & Lonnie Park. [12]
Year | Award | Work | Nomination | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 17th Independent Music Awards | Segments (album) | Best Jazz Instrumental | Won |
2021 | Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Awards | “Bemsha Swing” by Thelonious Monk | Independent Music Artist award in Best Jazz | Won |
2022 | One Earth Awards | “Bemsha Swing” by Thelonious Monk | Best Jazz | Won [16] |
2024 | Hollywood Independent Music Awards | "Fields" | Best piano solo / collab | Pending |