Born in Tel Aviv, saxophonist/clarinetist/flutist-arranger/composer/conductor Eyal Vilner moved to New York in 2007 and graduated from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in 2009. Vilner has performed at many New York City landmarks including Jazz at Lincoln Centres Dizzys Clubs, Iridium and Smalls, Sweet Rhythms, Fat Cats, the Garage, and Hudson River Park Stars of Tomorrow series. Vilner formed his own big band in 2008. After performing in many of New York’s top jazz clubs, Vilner started his own big band. In 2012, the band released Introducing the Eyal Villner Big Band. The album was praised and remained at the top of jazz radio charts in the US and Canada for over 3 months. The Eyal Villner Big Band collaborated with many jazz legends such as Jimmy Heath, Jimmy Owens, and Frank Wess from the NEA Jazz Masters. Junior Mance is also a member of the band. Vilner’s original compositions and new arrangements of jazz standards are performed by the big band. Eyal divides his time between leading his big band and performing with various ensembles, teaching, or composing commission work for different productions. Eyal Vilner is a talented musician, but it’s his abilities as a composer and arranger that make this a truly remarkable debut album from a group poised for greatness among the East’s major big bands. Vilner is a master of charts and musicianship, with an innovative sound that is in keeping with the best tradition of modern big band music. Eyal Vilner Big band is creating their own arrangement, which should see them reach the top of the big band ladder. Eyal Vilner, a formidable force in the big band world, is both a strong lyricist and an expert on the past. (Brent Black, Critical Jazz) Vilner revives a traditional style of music and makes it more appealing to modern audiences. Vilner’s mission is to show beauty through music. He coordinates instrument parts and layers them, and then combines them to create melodies that are both soothing and soul-soothing. ~Susan Frances, Yahoo! From www.eyalvilner.com
