Sarah's Jazz Club Review: Gilad Atzmon, Amos Hoffman Concert

Greetings, readers! At Sarah’s Jazz Club, we recently had the pleasure of hosting a musical collaboration between two of the world’s most celebrated jazz musicians, Gilad Atzmon and Amos Hoffman, and the Irenaeos Koullouras Trio. It was a night of awe-inspiring music, as the talented musicians blended their unique styles to create a stunning fusion of jazz that mesmerized the audience. The combination of their different musical backgrounds and cultures created a magical atmosphere full of joy, energy, and passion.

Sarah’s Jazz Club welcomed Irenaeos Koullouras Trio

The Irenaeos Koullouras Trio, featuring the highly talented bassist Irenaeos Koullouras, pianist Christos Yerolatsitis, and drummer Stelios Xydias, laid on an impressive performance. Christos Yerolatsitis played glistening ripples of melody with unusual harmonies and a touch of modern jazz piano, his solos stood out with crystal clarity, showcasing his skills and making for a truly unforgettable performance. These seasoned musicians are well-known in the jazz scene in Cyprus, and it was great to have them perform at our venue again. Their music was captivating and soulful, with an energetic beat that had the audience clapping. The vibe in the room was palpable as the trio weaved together their virtuosity and creativity with Gilad Atzmon and Amos Hoffman for this musical experience.

The impressive saxophone skills of Gilad Atzmon

When Gilad Atzmon (pictured above) took to the stage, he played scorching riffs and runs with pacing from long sustains to punchy uptempo notes with huge passion, showcasing his virtuoso talent on the saxophone and captivating the audience with his improvised melodies. Together with Amos Hoffman, the two musicians created a dynamic collaboration that left the audience spellbound. Amos Hoffman’s gentle, fluid touch on the guitar and relaxed on-stage presence contrasted and complemented Gilad Atzmon’s high-energy bebop attacks, making for a moving performance.

We felt we were in the hands of masters, especially when the band broke down the entire harmonic and rhythmic structure of the song to the point that we didn’t know where we were until they reoriented us with the familiar form and melody. It was a testament to the musical expertise of these world-class jazz musicians.

Gilad Atzmon and Amos Hoffman are both highly accomplished jazz artists with extensive backgrounds in music. Born in Israel, Gilad Atzmon is now based in the UK, where he is known for his mastery of the saxophone, clarinet, and other woodwind instruments. With 22 albums to his name, Atzmon is an acclaimed composer and performer who explores a range of social themes and Middle Eastern musical influences in his work. In addition to his solo work, Atzmon has collaborated with numerous artists including Pink Floyd, Ian Dury, and Robbie Williams.

Amos Hoffman is known for his pioneering fusion of Middle Eastern rhythms and melodies with modern jazz. Hoffman started playing guitar and oud at a young age and has since recorded five solo albums in addition to his contributions to the works of other artists. He has won numerous awards for his achievements in jazz, including the prestigious Landau Prize for Arts and Sciences in 2013. Based in the US, Hoffman continues to push the boundaries of jazz and explore new musical adventures.

Jazz singers Tali Atzmon and Ioanna Troullidou

The excitement continued to build as the evening progressed, with two guest spots by talented jazz singers joining the other musicians onstage on March 17th. Tali Atzmon impressed us with her sultry, emotional vocals and vibrant stage presence when she sang Rain or Shine. It was her first time at Sarah’s Jazz Club, and we look forward to having her back next time to perform on our stage.

Vocalist and actress Tali Atzmon started her starry career at the Israeli National Theatre. She then took a break from the stage in favour of filmmaking and photography while raising her family. Later on, she returned to the stage picking up music again and releasing her debut album ‘Talinka’ which received glowing critical acclaim and soon after was followed by the release of her second album ‘Rainbow Over Kolonaki’.

And let’s not forget Ioanna Troullidou’s stunning performance of The Nearness of You, with a beautiful, sensitive solo by Amos Hoffman. Her natural rhythm and a lifetime of singing carried the audience effortlessly through the song, making for a truly memorable performance.

Ioanna Troullidou was born in Nicosia and studied classical music at the University of Pecs in Hungary where she earned her master’s in music teaching and choir conducting, and Jazz performance at Bornemissza Maria’s singing school. During her 7 years of living in Hungary, she was the lead singer of No More Blues Band with whom she recorded and performed for more than 5 years.

Since 2007 she has been the instructor for Voice and Jazz performances at the European University Cyprus and an active singer in the Cyprus Jazz scene. In 2012 she recorded GET OUT OF TOWN, a collection of Jazz Standards arranged by saxophonist/composer Chris Byars. Ioanna has participated in many Known local Jazz Festivals such as Aglanjazz 2013, Pomos 2016, Old Port Jazz 2017, and some abroad like the Düsseldörf Jazz Rally 2017. She collaborated with musicians from Hungary Cyprus, Israel, the USA, and the Cyprus Symphonic orchestra.

Overall, it was an inspiring night of music at Sarah’s Jazz Club. We felt excited to have hosted such artists and look forward to bringing more world-class jazz performances to our stage in the future. If you missed this show, don’t worry - there are plenty of exciting events on the horizon, so keep an eye on our schedule at www.sarahsjazzclub.com and join us for an unforgettable night of jazz music soon!

Photo credit: Savvas Hadjigeorgiou.