Shimon Israel

I was first exposed to jazz in what was then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) by my father, playing big-band records of the '40s and '50s. I met John Scofield in his home town of Katonah, NY, when he took my son for an audition at the Steinhardt School (NYU). My son, Cale Israel, landed up going to NEC (Boston) and still lives there playing jazz, alt-rock, parades; also teaches piano and music theory. My advice to new listeners... start with mellow stuff—Ahmad Jamal (trio); Gerry Mulligan; early Miles Davis; also watch videos of the Sant Andreu Jazz Band of Barcelona, and the Essentially Ellington Jazz competition at Lincoln Center. You'll never regret it.