GIL LIVNI

ALL IN

Origin Records

Gil Livni, guitar; Amit Friedman, saxophone; Yonatan Riklis, organ; Yonatan Rosen, drums.

“Wonder Woman” is a tune that rushes out of this Gil Livni cd like someone running from a burning building.  This arrangement is fire!  The quartet plays at lightening speed, with Livni out front and leading the ensemble with gusto on his guitar.

Track #2 keeps the groove going, not as fast, but in the pocket in a bluesy way.  This title tune, “All In” quickly becomes a favorite of mine.  Yonatan Riklis improvises soulfully on organ after Livni’s impressive guitar solo.

Most of the songs on this album are composed by Gil Livni. The quartet offers ten tracks, inclusive of seven melodic originals, presented in a comfortable, hard-bop, tight-knit fashion. There is nothing I enjoy more than a jazz organ and guitar combination.  This quartet is spectacular, each member shining in their own talented light.

Their interpretation of the Beatles tune, “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” presents the pop song in a whole new perspective, fusing it with jazz, funk and blues. They also cover the familiar standard song, “I Thought About You.”

Gil Livni expresses himself tenaciously on guitar, channeling the traditional, but at the same time reshaping it with his own unique style and approach. The fiery organ of Riklis adds sparkle and brilliance to these arrangements. Yonatan Rosen is consistently powerful and supportive on drums. You hear this strongly exemplified on Track 5, a tune called “Granted” where Rosen stretches out during a solo excursion to show off his drum skills. Throughout this production, Amit Friedman adds his saxophone spice to the mix. His saxophone is featured on the old blues doo-wop tune, “Since I Fell For You” in a delightful way.  This time, the group slows the groove down to a sexy ballad.  Livni’s guitar shines during this blues arrangement.

Gil Livni is an accomplished Israeli jazz guitarist, a singer and composer.  He completed his bachelor’s degree during a joint program between the New School (in New York) and the Center for Jazz Studies at the Israel Conservatory of Music. This sensuous guitarist earned his master’s degree, with high honors, from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.  On this awesome recording, his guitar brilliance is spotlighted, along with the suburb talents of those in his quartet. Here is another fine example of jazz crossing borders and bridging cultures.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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