PRESS MATERIALS · CRITICAL ARCHIVE
Press Quotes
What makes Degibri outstanding is his inner flame, which is allied to virtuosic melodic purity. The way the group plays pretty and simple, then cranks through the gears, makes for an exhilarating trip.
DownBeat · Five-Star “Masterpiece” Review (★★★★★)
In the Words of His Collaborators & Mentors
A very talented composer, arranger, and performer... the caliber of which is a rare find in jazz today. Degibri’s music treads uncharted waters.
Herbie Hancock
Degibri knows how to tell a story, lots of feeling, lots of thought, he’s a wonderful melodist... Eli is the only young saxophonist that I know that his playing gives me joy.
Al Foster
Eli combines a notably muscular sound, provocative approach, and refined, creative jazz sensibility with extremely singable songwriting in a way that’s magical to me.
Aaron Goldberg
Selected Critical Acclaim
Throughout the metrically modulating, nine-minute tour de force, Degibri and 2018 Herbie Hancock Competition-winner pianist Tom Oren, bassist Alon Near, and force-of-nature drummer Eviatar Slivnik establish the ambiance of risk-taking, dramatic tension, close listening and virtuosic chops that characterizes the entire recital.
A profoundly moving work, Henri and Rachel is Degibri’s musical love letter to his parents... what is easily his most personal recording to date... plays with a muscular authority on the title track, swings with Getzian grace on the delicate 5/4 ‘Don Quixote.’
A haunting elegy for his parents... It’s in his tone: smooth and inviting but never saccharine and unafraid of a rough edge... the immensely soulful title track that freshly represents his career’s through line while hitting mature compositional heights.
This is a classy revisit to a timeless jazz era... more like a hybrid of Mobley and Sonny Rollins. ‘Dear Hank’, the seductively sleazy finale, is right in the pocket of the 1960s Blue Note soul-blues sound.
Noted for his stellar technique, the sense of urgency in his playing and his sometimes bristly, splintering compositions, Degibri here seems focused on storytelling, exploring melody and feeling. His artistry as a songwriter, bold improviser and skilled leader are in full effect.
It’s an intimidating group of heavyweights, but Degibri is the star here... Degibri handles the melody with skill, exhibiting a range that sounds equally full in all registers.