Updated: January 18, 2023
Born: August 26, 1960
Eldad Tarmu was born in Los Angeles, California, where he started studying drums and percussion. After graduating from Tel Aviv University in Israel, he returned to the US and started touring and holding jazz clinics with various jazz ensembles, mainly in Europe and Asia. In 2005 he got his Master's degree in Afro-Latin Music, from California State University Los Angeles. The same year he was appointed Head of the Jazz Department at "Richard Oschanitzky" Jazz School of Tibiscus University in Timisoara, Romania, following a fruitful colaboration with Romanian bassist and violonist Johnny Bota, one of the school founders. In 2009 he relocated to the US again, in order to continue his education at Stony Brook University, where he got a second Master's degree, in Classical Composition. He is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Performance from the same school, degree pursued under the guidance of Ray Anderson. He is a professor of World Music Studies, Intro to Music and African-American Music at Hudson County Community College in Jersey City. He has recently developed a Latin American Music Studies course for the College. He has also been teaching summer music classes (MUS101, MUS308) at SUNY Stony Brook Manhattan, as well as MUS568 Jazz Combo and MUS309 Music After 1900, as a teaching assistant at Stony Brook University.
He has been holding jazz clinics and workshops at festivals and also in music camps in Belgium, Indonesia, Cuba and Hungary. The jazz camp in Romania, held under the patronage of the International Association for Jazz Education, was featured in Down Beat Magazine.
Eldad is endorsed by Zildjian and Mike Balter Mallets.
Awards
Best ad music (Sears spot)
Gear
Mike Balter Mallets, K&K Sound System
Tags
All About Jazz Articles
Album Review
- Aluminum Forest by Jack Bowers
- Songs for the Queen of Bohemia by Raul d'Gama Rose
"Not only is Eldad a first-rate vibraphonist, but his compositional ideas also bring an interesting and innovative sound to the fore." Craig W. Hurst - Rhombus Records
"Meet the new face of jazz vibraphone. Tarmu differs from other relatively recent jazz vibraphonists... [...] ...His modernity is inherent in the music itself while still retaining the classic foundation you’d expect to find on one of your favorite Blue Note releases." Greg Debonne - Hollywood2You
"Tarmu's arrangements reveal an excellent feel for making the music move." Dave Nathan - AMG
Primary Instrument
Vibraphone
Location
New York City
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
Mallet technique, Jazz Harmony and Theory, Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Arranging, Rhythmic Studies, Ensemble Direction, World Music Styles (Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, Middle-Eastern), Exotic Modes in Jazz, Rhythm Section Workshops for soloists and vocalists. Available during weekdays, occasionally during weekends.
Clinic/Workshop Information
Jazz Harmony for Classical Musicians - Seven Easy Lessons