Faculty

Uri Gurvich is a composer, saxophonist and educator who pairs improvised music with the global sounds of the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, and South America. Based in New York City since 2005, Gurvich won acclaim as a bandleader with his albums, The Storyteller and BabEl, released on John Zorn’s label, Tzadik, and featuring some of the most prominent voices on the contemporary jazz scene: Argentinian pianist Leo Genovese, Bulgarian bassist Peter Slavov, Cuban drummer Francisco Mela. All Music Guide called Gurvich “a major new voice in jazz,” while The Los Angeles Times wrote that his music “transcends borders.” His third album, KINSHIP, was released on the French label, Jazz Family, and premiered at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Gurvich and his quartet have performed at premier venues in the U.S. such as the Village Vanguard, Town Hall, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Burlington Jazz Festival, and The Stone. He also performs regularly in Europe and South America with his own projects and with the World Citizen Band. Currently, Gurvich is working on a new large-scale project featuring the critically acclaimed Bergamot String Quartet alongside his jazz quartet.  ​

Gurvich has shared the stage and recorded with such artists as: Esperanza Spalding, John Zorn, Billy Cobham, The Mingus Big Band, Dave Douglas, Lionel Loueke, Chris Potter, Dave Liebman, Ben Monder, George Garzone, Jorge Rossy, Paquito D'Rivera, Uri Caine, Anat Cohen and Django Bates, among others.