One of the most prominent saxophone players living in Israel, Jess is one of the fewveteran musicians who helped growing Jazz music in Israel. "I was born in France in1945, began studying clarinet at the age of 9. Self taught on saxophone, I startedplaying jazz in early teens with the Garvanoff brothers around Fontainebleau. At theage of 18 played with Rolf Burher at the now defunct Kentucky club in Latin Quarter ofParis. and many other clubs
We played 6 days a week for about 4 years. Memorable concerts and jam sessions took place atthat time with some of the great American jazz musicians living in Paris - peoplelike Dexter Gordon, Don Byas, Johnny Griffin and others… they where the people welearned from. There was no jazz school and no books on the subject, but thosemusicians where very friendly and helpful.
I was replacing the legendary Benny Waters at "La Cigale" when he was out oftown playing in team with the great trumpeter Jack Butler. Then worked for the officiers clubs of theAmerican Army bases in Europe with Joan De Boer [an exellent musician from Holland]I came to Israel the first time in 1967. Very few musicians played jazz at that time, sowe where sort of pioneers of this music".
In the early seventies Jess went to work on the Carribeans Islands with Bernard Pollakwho was the manager of a resort vacation hotel and a saxophonist himself. Pollak was atrue jazz lover, he has founded a Jazz club hosting musicians from New York. Atthese times Jess had the opportunity to meet and play with people like RashaanRoland Kirk, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn , Roland Hanna,Joe Newman, Attila Zoller , Frank Wess ,BillyTaylor ,Jimmy and Percy Heath, Gerry Mulligan, RoyHaynes, , Chris Anderson and recorded with Clifford Jordan and WilburWare."Then I went to Sweeden playing and teaching there . Traveled to Tahitiwhere I stayed for 9 years ( in search of the miraculous... ), painting and teachingyoga".
Jess Koren came back to Israel in 1985 where he has been living since then. Jessperformes on major festivals and music events as a leader or a sideman. He has beenalso active as an educator.
for booking and info contact Jess Koren:
[email protected]
