Search - Gilad Hekselman :: Splitlife

Stunning debut

Johnnieboy | 03/18/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to Gilad for the first time completely blew my mind, as someone who thought that he had heard so much of the jazz guitar tradition already. I first encountered him playing on Youtube with Ari Hoenig, and since then have purchased both his albums (Split Life and Words Unspoken), have listened to recordings of his gigs at Smalls (feat Mark Turner) and any other material I could get my hands on.



To me he really represents the very bright future of jazz guitar, and despite his youth he has come into his own as a modern jazz master who can contribute something new to the art form while drawing on its past.



His playing with Ari Hoenig and Joe Martin on this album is just sublime which makes this album one of my favourites. While many critics seem to focus on the many aspects of Gilad's technical mastery of the art form, I personally think that he puts all these skills at the service of the music itself, and just wanting to take the audience on a journey and away from their everyday troubles. Standards I've heard many times are heard from a fresh new angle and are reinterpreted so that they form the basis of some mind-blowing musical communication between the trio members, and this pretty much the aspect that I value most highly in a jazz record.



Needless to say I completely recommend Gilad's work to all comers. Please also check out Words Unspoken, and Gilad's work on Ari Hoenig's "Bert's Playground"."

Must See/Hear!!

Paul D. Adams of www.tmch.net | Surprise, AZ USA | 12/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gilad Hekselman is truly one of today's finest jazz guitarist. Although reminiscent of Pat Martino, Pat Metheny and nuances of Jim Hall, his fluid, lyrical, and extended phrasing are uniquely "Gilad" and make his playing a must see and hear. If his first CD entitled Splitlife is any indication of what is to come from this young player, then we're in for a genuine treat in his next releases. Buy, engage, and enjoy Gilad Hekselman!!!



Don't miss...

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Gilad has found his niche and scratched it - phenomenal

David Pena | Lockport, IL. | 06/06/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i can remember a time when i thought i knew true music gilad is a jazz guitarist i will add to a select few of others pat metheny, antonio forcione, al di meola, julian lage they are all great john abercrombies characters album, jim hall,jims work goes without saying bireli lagrenes electric side with hadrien feraud on bass i could go on and on, gilad hits it right on the head in the tune suite for sweets, my second childhood, purim, the thrifty" hello who is it?" this album this guitarist work speaks for itself ive always been an avid jazz guitar fan im in my forties took lessons very early didnt stick with it own an acoustic dont play it much if at all, own a bass same thing however i love to listen, love to watch and i see gilad hekselman going the distance jazz is so underrated maybe i need to dust my gear off we are here to live arent we?!"