Eli Degibri (Hebrew : Aly dg’ybry) was born May 3, 1978 in Jaffa (Israel) and is an Israeli jazz saxophonist. He also composes and arranges. Degibri began playing the mandolin when he was seven years old in an after-school music program at Jaffa Conservatory of Music. After attending a jazz concert three years later, Degibri became obsessed with the saxophone, and he switched to studying that instrument. Degibri was awarded a full scholarship in 1994 to the Berklee College of Music’s summer performance program. Degibri received a full scholarship the following year and was able to participate in the Berklee program for another summer. Degibri, then 18, was awarded a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music in 1997. He moved to the United States with his family. After spending a year at Berklee he was selected as one of six musicians with full scholarships to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, where he studied with Benny Golson and Jimmy Heath. Degibri graduated from the Monk Institute in 1999 and was invited to join Herbie Hancock’s sextet. They played Hancock’s music, Gershwin’s World. Degibri traveled the globe with them for 2.5 year and was featured in Hancock’s 2002 The Jazz Channel Presents Herbie Hancock DVD Special. Degibri moved to New York in 2002 and formed his first quintet with Kurt Rosenwinkel and Aaron Goldberg. The band played in New York’s jazz clubs, including the Blue Note and the Jazz Standard, 55 Bar, Smalls Jazz Club, and 55 Bar. Degibri also joined Al Foster’s band, Al Foster Quartet, that year. Degibri’s first album, “In The Beginning”, was released in 2003 with his quintet on the Fresh Sound label. In 2006, Degibri released Emotionally Available on Fresh Sound. This album featured Goldberg, Street, and Ballard. He also appeared on One Little Song, a duo album with Kevin Hays. Degibri appeared on Al Foster’s 2008 album Love, Peace and Jazz!, which was recorded at the Village Vanguard in New York. It also appears on Foster’s 2008 DVD The Paris Concert. NPR aired a live performance of the Al Foster Quartet at Village Vanguard on May 21, 2008. Degibri, who formed an organ trio with Gary Versace, Obed Calvaire, and released his fourth album, Live At Louis 649 in 2008. He released the album Israeli Song, which he co-produced with Al Foster, Brad Mehldau, and Ron Carter on Anzic Records in 2010. Degibri was invited to headline the Red Sea Jazz Festival’s inaugural winter edition in January 2011. He has also performed a duo performance with Kenny Barron. Degibri performed with Al Foster, bassist George Mraz quartet and Fred Hersch at Birdland Jazz Club, New York on April 11, 2011. The performance was dedicated to Joe Henderson’s music. It took place around Henderson’s 74th Birthday. They were also invited to perform at both the 2011 North Sea Jazz Festival (and the Gent Jazz Festival). Degibri was named co-Artistic director of the Red Sea Jazz Festival as Avishai Cohen’s successor in October 2011. Degibri was invited to participate in UNESCO’s International Jazz Day at New York’s UN General Assembly. Degibri released Twelve on his own label PiLi Records (with a collaboration with Plus Loin Music) on August 29, 2013. Eric Reed and Mingus Big Band have also collaborated with Degibri. From Wikipedia
