Biography Gilad Atzmon

Gilad Atzmon (born June 9, 1963) is a jazz musician, author and anti-zionist activist, who was born in Israel and currently lives in exile in London, regarding himself as a Hebrew-speaking Palestinian.

He was born a secular Israeli Jew in Tel Aviv, and trained at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, where he learned to play soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. He also plays clarinet, sol, zurna and flute. He studied philosophy in Germany and moved to London at age 32.

Gilad's main instrument is the alto saxophone. His jazz style is bebop/hard bop, veering at times into free jazz. He has earned many jazz awards and is regarded as one of the greatest saxophonists of his generation. He records his albums on Enja Records. He has other musical interests, notably in music of the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe. He is notably also a member of the veteran punk rock band The Blockheads. He has recorded and performed with Shane McGowan, Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Connor, Robert Wyatt and Paul McCartney.

In addition to being a jazz musician and political writer, Atzmon is also a novelist whose books have been published in 22 languages. His Guide to the Perplexed was published in 2001 and his My One and Only Love in 2005. Both novels explore Jewish and Zionist psychology.

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