Born in Kiryat Ono (near Tel Aviv), Israel in 1984, Oded Tzur is a New York-based jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. Influenced by the sound of jazz as he grew up, he studied saxophone under Gersh Geller. He then attended Thelma Yellin High School For The Arts and the Jerusalem Academy. In 2007, he enrolled at Rotterdam Conservatory and was the only saxophonist to study under flautist teacher Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Interested in traditional Indian music, he researched, experimented, and developed a style that expanded the micro-tonality of the saxophone. His playing style was inspired by both the music of North India and the Middle East and is referred to as ‘The Middle Path’. Relocating to New York in 2011. After assimilating himself into the jazz community, he formed the Oded Tzur Quartet with Shai Maestro (piano), Petros Klampanis (double bass), and Ziv Ravitz (drums). After touring Europe and Israel, the quartet signed with Yellowbird / Enja Records and released the album Like a Great River (2015). Oded Tzur and his band released their sophomore album, Translator's Note, in 2017. After a European tour, he debuted his new quartet - Nitai Hershkovits (piano), Jonathan Blake (drums), and the returning Klampanis (double bass) – and signed a new record deal with the ECM label. His first album for the label was Here Be Dragons (2020), followed two years later by Isabela (2022).
