Omer Klein Quartet

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"Klein has the potential to achieve something much rarer for a jazz musician: popularity. What he plays is exotic yet accessible and makes you feel fully alive."

- JAZZ TIMES

"Omer Klein pushes mainstream-jazz concepts into the future"

 - TIME OUT NEW YORK

Pianist and composer Omer Klein is gaining international recognition for his performances and recordings, as a band leader and a sideman. At 26, he is the newest force in the Israeli – New York City Jazz movement. In a review of his recent CD, The Village Voice praised his originality: "on the new 'Introducing Omer Klein', he indicates that he's arrived without echoing any of the masters - an accomplishment these days". All About Jazz noted his "tumultuous lyricism", while Jazz Times described his compositions as "folk songs for the melting pot of the new millennium, with strong Middle Eastern and African elements". Klein is performing extensively worldwide; Aside from leading his own group, he has worked with Jazz artists such as Omer Avital, Anat Cohen, Joel Frahm and Meshell Ndgeocello, and collaborated with Israeli music icons like Yehudit Ravitz and Alon Oleartchik. 

Introducing Omer Klein, his debut CD as a leader, was released in February 2008 on Smalls Records, and received raving reviews. The album is comprised of 10 original compositions by Klein, featuring improvisations by his world-class ensemble: Omer Avital on bass and oud, Ziv Ravitz on drums and Itamar Doari on percussion. Later this year, Klein was commissioned by the America Israel Cultural Foundation to write a piece incorporating his jazz trio with a string quartet. The piece, entitled 'Septet', was premiered at New York's Merkin Concert Hall. The performance received a sweeping standing ovation and 'Septet' was programmed for AICF's gala concert at 'Jazz at Lincoln Center'.

Klein's solo piano CD, Heart Beats, will be released in March 2009.