Israeli saxophonist and composer Eli Degibri earned acclaim for his playing since he was a teenager, and his musical pursuits have led him to play with other highly-esteemed players as he worked his way towards band leader status. Born in Jaffa, Israel, on May 3, 1978, Degibri was offered scholarships to participate in summer seminars at the Berklee College of Music, and later to the school itself. From there he switched to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Washington, DC, and joined Herbie Hancock’s sextet after graduation.
A gifted tenor and soprano sax player, Degibri made his debut as a band leader in 2003 with In the Beginning, followed by Emotionally Available in 2006. He began to explore the saxophone/organ/drums format more extensively, as evidenced on his 2008 live album Live at Louis 649. He has performed at festivals in Israel, Belgium, and the Netherlands, as well as many of New York City’s prominent jazz stages, including the legendary Birdland. His self-released album Soul Station arrived in 2018, and featured his takes on compositions by Irving Berlin and Hank Mobley.
