Harmonica Virtuoso Roni Eytan Plays Dizzy's, NYC, Oct. 1-3 at Dizzy's Jazz at Lincoln Center

"This young man has exceptional talent that stands out quite distinctively as if a bright star in a wonderful galaxy. Tomorrow belongs to him." - Benny Golson

Roni Eytan is a harmonica player and composer who has been described as “redefining the instrument's role in jazz and world music.” At 23 he joined Grammy-winning pianist Danilo Pérez's band, performing worldwide, and has since been sought after as a sideman, performing with John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Kris Davis, Kevin Hays and Gilad Hekselman among others. He is the only harmonica player personally chosen by Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter for the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, where both mentored him.

With a sound that blends influences as wide as brass, woodwinds, strings and folk traditions, Eytan pushes the sonic possibilities of the harmonica, bridging cultures and creating a versatile musical language. His search for new territory led him to commission and help create the first microtonal harmonica, an instrument built to voice the subtle inflections of Middle Eastern maqam, opening ground never before reached on the instrument.

Eytan's new release Melody People seeks to create a living, breathing sound world — one where the past and present converse, and each listener becomes part of the unfolding story. It is scheduled for release on October 30 on bassist-composer Petros Klampanis' PKmusik label.

www.ronieytan.com