Tamir Hendelman – Pianist

The award-winning jazz pianist has performed with Teddy Edwards, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Harry Allen, Tierney Sutton, Phil Upchurch, Jeff Clayton, Rickey Woodard, Sandra Booker, Barbara Morrison and the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. He has recorded with Oscar Brashear, Bob Sheppard and Jeff Clayton. He can also be heard on Brasil Brazil’s self-titled 1999 release as well as vibraphonist’s Eldad Tarmu’s CD, Aluminum Forest.
Tamir began his keyboard studies at age 6, attending the Anazagi Conservatory in Tel Aviv, Israel. During this period, a Count Basie recording introduced him to jazz. In 1984, his family moved to Los Angeles. Two years later, at age 14, Tamir won top honors at Yamaha’s national keyboard competition. As a result, performances in Japan and at the Kennedy Center followed. In 1988, Tamir studied composition at the Tanglewood Institute where he received his first writing commission for large ensemble. Eastman School of Music was the next stop for Tamir in 1989. This experience afforded him learning opportunities with visiting alumnus Ron Carter and jazz great Lee Konitz. There, he received a Bachelor of Music degree in composition in 1993.
Since returning to Los Angeles in 1996, Tamir has been in demand as both pianist and arranger. His accomplishments include: receiving awards from ASCAP and the National Foundation For Advancement in the Arts, musical director for Lovewell Institute for Creative Arts and clinician for the Thelonius Monk Institute. In March of 2000, Tamir joined the Jeff Hamilton Trio and in January of 2001, became the pianist with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. He was a recent guest soloist with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.