Minton's Records First Release - I decided!

The Amit Golan Quintet featuring Joe Magnarelli

1. Sari (5:30)                                     

2. Doctor D (8:27)

3. Samson & Delilah (7:03)

4. I decided! (6:42)

5. Just in between (6:32)

6. Fresh breeze (5:17)

7. Love walked in (8:47)

8. Silver moods (6:48)

Total Time: 54:04

Joe Magnarelli – Trumpet

Asaf Yuria – Tenor Sax

Gilad Abro – Bass

Doron Tirosh – Drums (2, 3, 4, 5, 7)

Yonatan Rosen – Drums (1, 6, 8)

Eden Bareket – Baritone Sax (3)

All titles composed and arranged by Amit Golan / ACUM (except: Love Walked In, composed by George Gershwin, arranged by Amit Golan).

Recorded at the Lin & Ted Arison Israel Conservatory of Music - Tel Aviv, July 19, 20 & 21, 2007.

Produced by Amit Golan & Noam Uziel; recorded and mixed by Uzi Levy; CD cover design by Eran Yuval.

Pianist, composer, arranger and educator Amit Golan, grew up in Haifa, Israel where he began to study music at the age of seven.  After his mandatory military service, Amit studied composition at The Jerusalem Rubin Academy of Music and a year later moved to New York City. 

In New York, he enrolled at the prestigious New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music where he studied with Junior Mance, Kenny Werner, and Joanne Brackeen.

After graduating in 1991 with a BFA degree, Amit regularly attended Barry Harris's jazz improvisation workshops, an experience which has been a formative influence in his own style of teaching and from which Amit continues to draw inspiration.

Since his return home to Israel in 1995, Amit has taught jazz history, harmony, and improvisation at Israel's leading music schools, including the Thelma Yellin High School for Arts.

Golan is the founder and director of the Jazz department at the Israel Conservatory of Music in Tel Aviv. Since its inception in 2001, the jazz department at the Israel Conservatory has earned its reputation as providing the program with the highest professional standards of jazz education in Israel.

Over the past decade Amit has established himself as one of the leading jazz educators in the country.  Many of his students, who come from all over the country, have gone on to enjoy successful international careers.  

Amit leads several bands including a Hammond - guitar trio, a quintet and sextet and of course, his piano trio with Doron Tirosh on drums & Gilad Abro on bass, which is the heart of the more extended ensembles.

The trio has performed steadily for the past nine years, playing as rhythm section for renowned Israeli jazz musicians, among them: Avishay Cohen, Anat & Yuval Cohen, Erez Bar-Noy, Asaf Yuria, Itay Kriss, Yotam Silverstein, Ofer Ganor, Amos Hoffman, Jonatan Voltchuk, Avi Leibovitch, as well as international stars such as Slide Hampton, Steve Davis, Joe Magnarelli and others.

In December 2007 Amit Golan released his critically acclaimed debut album "I Decided!" for the local Israeli market and got rave reviews  in the media, including the highly respected Haaretz news paper (English translation, view original in Hebrew).

The second edition of the album was released in July 2008 for world distribution.

About the music/production

By: Noam Uziel, Co-Producer, Tel Aviv, 2008

I Decided! is a classic Hard-Bop album reminiscent of the old days of Lee Morgan, Sonny Clark and others. No Post-Bop, no Progressive Jazz, no apologies. Just good old Hard-Bop!

The album features seven of Golan's original compositions and one Gershwin standard.

The opening theme Sari has a unique form constructed of five different segments, each eight bars in length. The 'A' segment is in B minor with the major seventh on top, which recalls the sound of Horace Silver's "Nica's Dream". The 'B' & 'C' segments, flavored with II – V progressions ascending in half steps, each in a different key. The 'D' segment, is similar to 'B' but with a different ending.

It's a challenging progression which Joe Magnarelli plays brilliantly in a superb solo, with forceful energy and beautiful lyricism. His tone may have reflections of the great late Kenny Dorham.

Doctor D. is an E flat bebop tune that ends with a typical Tadd Dameron progression. Asaf Yuria's tenor sax solo is a exquisite.

Samson & Delilah is a tune based on the old Victor Young standard Delilah, recorded by the great Clifford Brown, Milt Jackson, Wes Montgomery and others.

The theme is constructed from a different set of changes. The 'A' segment is played without piano accompaniment, in order to feature the three horns. The 'B' segment uses a ¾ time feel, over 4/4 time.

The solos are played on the original Delilah changes opening with a baritone solo played by the young and up and coming Eden Bareket.

I decided is a tune based on Charlie Shavers beautiful theme Undecided.

Just in between - Inspired by the ballads of Horace Silver and is arranged with that atmosphere.

Fresh breeze has an easy going bossa-nova feel with a short interlude before each solo.

Love Walked in is one of George Gershwin’s most magnificent themes & features an opening solo by bass player Gilad Abro who shows virtuosity as well as creativity and imagination.

The last tune, Silver Moods is dedicated to the great Horace silver and is inspired by his music & soul.

“Golan has dived so deep into the aesthetics of hard bop that he has actually become a contemporary of its artists, despite working 50 years later…he makes sure to spice up the rhythm of his songs, and the result is very elegant, fun music”. 

-         Ben Shalev, Haaretz news paper, Dec 5^th, 2007.

"The fantastic melodies were composed in the atmosphere of Hard Bop with the authenticity of that sound.  They contain the depth and complexity of traditional American Jazz.  The compositions are melodic and accessible but also deep.  Each tune brings with it something original and refreshing.  The compositions are different from one another and surprising in their diversity.

In my opinion, Amit Golan is one of the leading Jazz composers in Israel today"

-         Nurit Hirsh*, October 2007

*Nurit Hirsh is one of Israel’s most known and respected Composer & Song Writer.