11 Facts About Omer Avital

When he was 17, Omer Avital began playing professionally in jazz, pop, and folk music bands, as well as performing regularly on national television, radio, and in jazz festivals.

Omer Avital spent a year in the Israeli Army Orchestra and then moved to New York in 1992 where he began playing, recording, and touring professionally.

In 1994, he began collaborating with pianist Jason Lindner, with whom Omer Avital began leading his own groups and big band during the after-hours sessions at Smalls Jazz Club in Greenwich Village.

Omer Avital was the subject of frequent features in The New York Times.

Omer Avital signed to record his debut album, Devil Head, the following year, but it was never issued.

In 2001, Omer Avital released his debut album, Think With Your Heart, featuring Gregory Tardy, Jay Collins, Myron Walden, Joel Frahm, Jimmy Greene, Joshua Levitt, Daniel Freedman and Marlon Browden.

In 2003, Omer Avital returned to Israel, where for three years he studied classical composition, Arabic music theory, oud, and traditional Israeli music.

In 2005, Omer Avital returned to New York and released three albums, including two from the Smalls recording archives and a fourth with the group Third World Love.

In 2006, Omer Avital's album Asking No Permission was named to many best ten lists.

Omer Avital served as the producer and arranger in addition to playing the bass and oud.

Omer Avital released two albums in 2012, one with Aaron Goldberg and Ali Jackson, Jr.