Gur Liraz

Gur Liraz on ubuntu music

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the upcoming release of Squiggles, the third album from Israeli guitarist/composer Gur Liraz, which will be available from 19th May 2023.

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1988, Gur first took up the guitar when he was nine years old, and soon began his journey with jazz music. He majored in jazz at the prestigious Thelma Yellin High School, where he studied with some of the best musicians from the Israeli scene such as Amit Golan, Yuval Cohen, Erez Barnoy, Amos Hoffman and many more. He spent four years of that time studying under jazz guitar master, Ofer Ganor. Gur spent time in New York City, studying under guitar legend Peter Bernstein. Gur currently resides in Berlin.

Gur shares the background on Squiggles, his upcoming album: “This was created during the Corona lockdown, and so, more than anything we had time…time to write, compose, arrange, and explore our own ideas as individuals and together as a band. When we decided to record, it was clear to us that we wanted to create only original music, and so even though the album has a clear hard-bop flavour, all the songs are original - seven of my own and two from my organist, Tal Balshai. All of them take inspiration from our Israeli roots as well as from the tradition of soul and blues playing that informs jazz music. With an aesthetic focus on exploring the canonical organ-guitar combos of the 60s - such as Wes Montgomery and Melvin Rye or Grant Green and Larry Young - the songs have a traditional as opposed to innovative sound. Above all, they are an offering of what we created as a band, and me as a composer, during the time the world came to a halt.”

Gur continues, describing the idea behind the project: “Ever since I got into jazz music as a kid, guitar-organ combos always had a place of honour in my playlist. From the classic Wes Montgomery organ trios to the modern versions of Peter Bernstein or John Scofield, that combination just seems so natural and generative, yet it is able to offer so much. When I met Tal, I was absolutely thrilled to explore that sound myself. This recording is a childhood dream come true.”

Gur explains how he was introduced to Ubuntu Music: “I first heard about Martin Hummel and Ubuntu Music from a guitarist friend of mine, Ron Magril, who also had just released his debut album with them and was really impressed with the enthusiasm Martin had for music in general as well as for the projects he released on the label. The fact that the label works with many young, upcoming Israeli artists alongside absolute first row masters made me feel right at home. And so, I was thrilled when Martin told me that he ‘likes the project…a lot’. I couldn't be more excited about this cooperation and what it may bring in the future!”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “It was a pleasure to have been introduced to Gur and his trio project. The guitar-organ format is a personal favourite of mine and these guys really know how to swing with their own style and musical swagger. ‘Squiggles’ is a joy of an album that sits very well within the Ubuntu Music Family.”

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1988, Gur first took up the guitar when he was nine years old, and soon began his journey with jazz music. He majored in jazz at the prestigious Thelma Yellin High School, where he studied with some of the best musicians from the Israeli scene such as Amit Golan, Yuval Cohen, Erez Barnoy, Amos Hoffman and many more. He spent four years of that time studying under jazz guitar master, Ofer Ganor.

As soon as graduating high school in 2004, Gur became an active part of the lively Tel Aviv Jazz scene, performing in jazz clubs, bars and different venues, as well as recording. At the same time, he was also teaching guitar and music, both privately and in music schools. Later, Gur took up the classical guitar, studying under internationally acclaimed guitarists Seth Josel and Ruben Saroussi and gaining third place at the Young Guitarist’s competition of the Music Academy in Jerusalem.          

In 2013, after eight months in New York, taking lessons with guitar legend Peter Bernstein, Gur moved to Berlin and soon became involved in its rapidly evolving jazz scene. He performs regularly in some of the city's most visited jazz clubs. Aside from his own quartet and trio projects, he collaborates with some of the city's most in demand musicians. Together with his quartet Gur was featured with singer Amanda Becker on her debut album, You’re Looking at Me. The two also recorded a duet album, Ask Me Now, in 2023.

During the corona virus crisis and the subsequent lockdown, Gur became more interested in the challenges of composition. Seeking an inspiring environment to investigate questions of Jewish heritage and its intersections with jazz, he applied and was accepted to the prestigious LABA Jewish culture lab. His debut album, Squiggles, will be released with the London based music label Ubuntu Music on May 19th, 2023. It features his compositions in a trio format, including Tal Balshai (organ) and Omri Gondor (drums).

Gur is also a two-time recipient of Neustart Kulture Grant, #hierspieltdiemusik and Musifonds fundings and GEMA stipendienprogramm 2021, as well as a member of the Deustche Jazz Union and GEMA Society for Composers.