Born and raised in Israel, Uri Gurvich won the Jazz Player of the Year competition in Israel before relocating to Boston to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music studying under Joe Lovano. He has played at prestigious jazz festivals and venues in Europe, Japan and the US, including Lincoln Center and the Blue Note. Gurvich is an in- demand saxophonist who won also acclaim as a leader with his debut, The Storyteller, which was released on John Zorn’s label - Tzadik Records and features some of the most prominent voices on the contemporary New York jazz scene. The music places Israeli, Yemenite, East European and North African music into a progressive jazz context. Recently, Uri joined the band of renowned drummer Francisco Mela – Cuban Safari, and appears on his latest release from Half Note Records, Tree of Life featuring Esperanza Spalding.