Koby Israelite
Encyclopedia
Koby Israelite is a multi-instrumentalist composer
, producer
, songwriter
and band leader.
He released four critically acclaimed albums through John Zorn
's Tzadik Records
label :
King Papaya
, his most adventurous record to date, was independently released in 2009 to positive reviews.
As well as producing solo material Israelite has established a career producing for a range of artists, touring stages around the world and co-operating with a number of film
, theatre
and television
companies.
lessons at the Tel Aviv
conservatory of music.
At the age of 15 hestarted to play the drum
kit and studied jazz
at the David Rich School of Drumming in Tel Aviv
.
Self taught on his brother’s left handed right handed guitar
he joined several rock
, punk
and heavy metal
bands.
Whilst living and studying in Israel
he became exposed to a whole range of different styles and genres from a variety of locations around the world, which has rounded his now eclectic style.
After finishing studies in Israel
he turned down the chance to study at Berklee College of Music
and instead moved to London
to further his career.
a number of new opportunities arose in Koby's career.
He joined a rock group and also became a professional session drummer mastering to play numerous musical styles from jazz
to metal
to drum and bass
to West African funk.
After his band failed to agree on the terms of a proposed record contract he decided to part ways and become more independent as an artist which led to the start of composition and recording of his own solo material.
After seeing the Romanian Gypsy outfit Taraf de Haïdouks play live in London
, Koby became immediately endeared to the accordion
.
The acquisition of an accordion
was a milestone in Koby's musical direction.
Israelite began gigging and recording with a number of Taraf De Haidouks members as well as having his music covered by Fanfare Ciocărlia
.
After building Bamba studio's at his home in London, Israelite began producing, writing and arranging for himself and others.
Koby sent a demo recording to idol and major influence John Zorn
, which was another milestone in Koby Israelite's career.
in April 2003, owned by John Zorn
himself.
He released four albums through the established Tzadik Records
imprint, Dance of the Idiots
(2003), Mood Swings (2005) Orobas: Book of Angels Volume 4
(2006) and Is He Listening?
(2009).
Koby Israelite also contributed to a number of albums written by John Zorn
under the Masada Book 2: The Book of Angels series.
He independently released “King Papaya
” his most adventurous record to date.
He is continuing the recording and production of his own solo work as well studio and touring projects with a range of other artists and musicians.
and Channel 4
.
He produced an original score for Israeli Academy Award winning TV programme “The Ten Commandments”.
He was selected to appear in Madonna
’s directorial debut film “Filth and Wisdom
”.
He has as written an original score for multi-award winning film “Jerusalem Syndrome”.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and band leader.
He released four critically acclaimed albums through John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
's Tzadik Records
Tzadik Records
Tzadik Records is a record label based in New York City specialising in avant-garde and experimental music. The label was established by the eclectic composer and saxophonist John Zorn in 1995; Zorn is the executive producer of all Tzadik releases...
label :
- Dance of the IdiotsDance of the IdiotsDance of the Idiots is the first Koby Israelite album to be released on the Tzadik Records imprint in 2003.- Track listing :# "Saints and dates" - 3:37# "Toledo five four" - 4:33# "If that makes any sense" - 5:46# "Diego" - 1:51...
(2003) - Mood Swings (2005)
- Orobas: Book of Angels Volume 4Orobas: Book of Angels Volume 4-Track listing:# "Rampel" - 6:31# "Zafiel" - 4:40# "Ezgadi" - 5:16# "Nisroc" - 4:56# "Negef" - 5:54# "Khabiel" - 6:28# "Chayo" - 6:27# "Rachmiel" - 8:08*Recorded in London, UK in November-December 2005-Personnel:...
(2006) - Is He Listening?Is He Listening?Is He Listening? is the fourth album by Koby Israelite, the last under the Tzadik label.It was recorded and mixed at Bamba Studios in London in 2008.-Track listing:# Joy - 5:48# Papa Don´t Trill - 5:30# Easy Listening - 5:34...
(2009).
King Papaya
King Papaya
King Papaya is the fifth album by Koby Israelite, recorded and mixed in Bamba Studios, London and released independently through Circus Mayhem Records. The album comes with a 28-page story by Ofir Touche Gafla...
, his most adventurous record to date, was independently released in 2009 to positive reviews.
As well as producing solo material Israelite has established a career producing for a range of artists, touring stages around the world and co-operating with a number of film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
companies.
Early life
At the age of six, Koby Israelite started taking classical pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
lessons at the Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
conservatory of music.
At the age of 15 hestarted to play the drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
kit and studied jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
at the David Rich School of Drumming in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
.
Self taught on his brother’s left handed right handed guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
he joined several rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands.
Whilst living and studying in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
he became exposed to a whole range of different styles and genres from a variety of locations around the world, which has rounded his now eclectic style.
After finishing studies in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
he turned down the chance to study at Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
and instead moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to further his career.
Early career
After moving to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
a number of new opportunities arose in Koby's career.
He joined a rock group and also became a professional session drummer mastering to play numerous musical styles from jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
to metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
to drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
to West African funk.
After his band failed to agree on the terms of a proposed record contract he decided to part ways and become more independent as an artist which led to the start of composition and recording of his own solo material.
After seeing the Romanian Gypsy outfit Taraf de Haïdouks play live in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Koby became immediately endeared to the accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
.
The acquisition of an accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
was a milestone in Koby's musical direction.
Israelite began gigging and recording with a number of Taraf De Haidouks members as well as having his music covered by Fanfare Ciocărlia
Fanfare Ciocarlia
Fanfare Ciocărlia is a popular twelve-piece Romani brass band from the northeastern Romanian village of Zece Prăjini. The band began as a loose assemblage of part-time musicians playing at local weddings and baptisms. In October 1996, the German sound engineer and record producer Henry Ernst...
.
After building Bamba studio's at his home in London, Israelite began producing, writing and arranging for himself and others.
Koby sent a demo recording to idol and major influence John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
, which was another milestone in Koby Israelite's career.
Signing to Tzadik
Koby Israelite was offered a recording contract with New York Label Tzadik RecordsTzadik Records
Tzadik Records is a record label based in New York City specialising in avant-garde and experimental music. The label was established by the eclectic composer and saxophonist John Zorn in 1995; Zorn is the executive producer of all Tzadik releases...
in April 2003, owned by John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
himself.
He released four albums through the established Tzadik Records
Tzadik Records
Tzadik Records is a record label based in New York City specialising in avant-garde and experimental music. The label was established by the eclectic composer and saxophonist John Zorn in 1995; Zorn is the executive producer of all Tzadik releases...
imprint, Dance of the Idiots
Dance of the Idiots
Dance of the Idiots is the first Koby Israelite album to be released on the Tzadik Records imprint in 2003.- Track listing :# "Saints and dates" - 3:37# "Toledo five four" - 4:33# "If that makes any sense" - 5:46# "Diego" - 1:51...
(2003), Mood Swings (2005) Orobas: Book of Angels Volume 4
Orobas: Book of Angels Volume 4
-Track listing:# "Rampel" - 6:31# "Zafiel" - 4:40# "Ezgadi" - 5:16# "Nisroc" - 4:56# "Negef" - 5:54# "Khabiel" - 6:28# "Chayo" - 6:27# "Rachmiel" - 8:08*Recorded in London, UK in November-December 2005-Personnel:...
(2006) and Is He Listening?
Is He Listening?
Is He Listening? is the fourth album by Koby Israelite, the last under the Tzadik label.It was recorded and mixed at Bamba Studios in London in 2008.-Track listing:# Joy - 5:48# Papa Don´t Trill - 5:30# Easy Listening - 5:34...
(2009).
Koby Israelite also contributed to a number of albums written by John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
under the Masada Book 2: The Book of Angels series.
Becoming an independent artist
After success through the Tzadik label, Koby managed to establish himself as an independent artist.He independently released “King Papaya
King Papaya
King Papaya is the fifth album by Koby Israelite, recorded and mixed in Bamba Studios, London and released independently through Circus Mayhem Records. The album comes with a 28-page story by Ofir Touche Gafla...
” his most adventurous record to date.
He is continuing the recording and production of his own solo work as well studio and touring projects with a range of other artists and musicians.
Music for movies, television and radio
Koby's music has appeared on the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
.
He produced an original score for Israeli Academy Award winning TV programme “The Ten Commandments”.
He was selected to appear in Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
’s directorial debut film “Filth and Wisdom
Filth and Wisdom
Filth and Wisdom is the first film directed by Madonna, starring Eugene Hütz, Holly Weston, Vicky McClure and Richard E. Grant. It was filmed on location in London, England from May 14 to May 29, 2007 with additional scenes shot in July 2007....
”.
He has as written an original score for multi-award winning film “Jerusalem Syndrome”.
Discography
- 1999 - Tequila Girls
- 2001 - I Think Therefore I'm Not Sure
- 2003 - Dance of the IdiotsDance of the IdiotsDance of the Idiots is the first Koby Israelite album to be released on the Tzadik Records imprint in 2003.- Track listing :# "Saints and dates" - 3:37# "Toledo five four" - 4:33# "If that makes any sense" - 5:46# "Diego" - 1:51...
- 2005 - Mood Swings
- 2006 - Orobas: Book of Angels Volume 4Orobas: Book of Angels Volume 4-Track listing:# "Rampel" - 6:31# "Zafiel" - 4:40# "Ezgadi" - 5:16# "Nisroc" - 4:56# "Negef" - 5:54# "Khabiel" - 6:28# "Chayo" - 6:27# "Rachmiel" - 8:08*Recorded in London, UK in November-December 2005-Personnel:...
- 2009 - King PapayaKing PapayaKing Papaya is the fifth album by Koby Israelite, recorded and mixed in Bamba Studios, London and released independently through Circus Mayhem Records. The album comes with a 28-page story by Ofir Touche Gafla...
- 2009 - Is He Listening?Is He Listening?Is He Listening? is the fourth album by Koby Israelite, the last under the Tzadik label.It was recorded and mixed at Bamba Studios in London in 2008.-Track listing:# Joy - 5:48# Papa Don´t Trill - 5:30# Easy Listening - 5:34...
Appearances
- 2003 - Gilad Atzmon & the orient house ensemble / Enja records
- 2003 - Masada Anniversary Edition Vol. 3: The Unknown Masada : http://www.tzadik.com/index.php?catalog=7181
- 2006 - Artie Fishel and the promise band
- 2006 - Giulio Risi / Deep down where the heart beats no more.
- 2007 - Daphna Sadeh and the voyagers / Walking a thin line /33 records
- 2007 - international akkordeon festival. Wien Live, vol...2/extraplatte
- 2008 - MadonnaMadonna (entertainer)Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
debut film-Filth and WisdomFilth and WisdomFilth and Wisdom is the first film directed by Madonna, starring Eugene Hütz, Holly Weston, Vicky McClure and Richard E. Grant. It was filmed on location in London, England from May 14 to May 29, 2007 with additional scenes shot in July 2007....
. Soundtrack (one track: Saints & Dates) - 2008 - Jerusalem syndromeJerusalem syndromeThe Jerusalem syndrome is a group of mental phenomena involving the presence of either religiously themed obsessive ideas, delusions or other psychosis-like experiences that are triggered by a visit to the city of Jerusalem...
. Scored original soundtrack. - 2008 - Malcolm bruce, youth music.