Omer Avital

Omer Avital was born in 1971 in Givatayim

Omer Avital was born in 1971 in Givatayim to parents of Moroccan and Yemeni origin. At 11 he began studying classical guitar at the Givatayim Conservatory. At the Thelma Yellin high school he moved to the double bass and focused on jazz.

From 17 he played professionally in jazz, pop and folk bands. He did his military service in a military orchestra.

In 1992 he moved to New York, where he played with musicians such as Roy Haynes, Jimmy Cobb and Kenny Garrett. From 1994 he led his own groups at the Smalls jazz club. He released his debut album in 2001.

He later returned to Israel for 3 years of study in classical composition, Arabic music theory and oud. In 2005 he went back to New York. In 2009 he founded the group Yemen Blues with Ravid Kahalani, which mixes Yemenite music with funk, blues and jazz.

In 2012 he released the album Suite of the East. Later albums include New Song in 2013 and Abutbul Music in 2016.