Avi Bortnick
Encyclopedia
Avi Bortnick is a guitarist who became more widely known after his association with jazz
guitarist John Scofield
. Bortnick joined Scofield's jam-oriented band in 2000, and played rhythm guitar and samples on two records: Überjam
and Up All Night
.
Born in Israel
, Bortnick was raised in St. Louis, Missouri
, where he attended racially integrated public schools and was immersed in the sounds of late 70's funk
, rock and soul. After moving to California
in 1983, Bortnick began to play with various African and Caribbean
bands. Later, as a graduate student at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Bortnick started the band What It Is, which became popular in the South East touring circuit, though the band was never signed to a major label
.
Bortnick became known as a strong rhythm guitar
player, and came to John Scofield's attention when putting a band together to support his Verve
release, Bump. A five month tour extended to 4½ years.
In 2003, Avi released his solo CD Clean Slate with 12 original songs.
Since 2003, Bortnick resides in New York City, playing with various bands, including Cornpone and Suite (with members of Verve recording artists The Brazilian Girls).
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
guitarist John Scofield
John Scofield
John Scofield , often referred to as "Sco," is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who has played and collaborated with Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham,...
. Bortnick joined Scofield's jam-oriented band in 2000, and played rhythm guitar and samples on two records: Überjam
Überjam
Überjam is an album by the John Scofield Band which was released on January 29, 2002 on Verve Records. Many unique musical styles are performed throughout Überjam, including Jazz fusion, Jazz-funk, drum and bass, and Acid Jazz....
and Up All Night
Up All Night (John Scofield album)
-Track listing:#Philiopiety#Watch Out For Po-Po#Creeper#Watcha See Is Watcha Get#I'm Listening#Thikhathali#Four On The Floor#Like The Moon#Freakin' Disco#Born In Troubled Times#Every Night is Ladies Night-Personnel:...
.
Born in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Bortnick was raised in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, where he attended racially integrated public schools and was immersed in the sounds of late 70's funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, rock and soul. After moving to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1983, Bortnick began to play with various African and Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
bands. Later, as a graduate student at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Bortnick started the band What It Is, which became popular in the South East touring circuit, though the band was never signed to a major label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
.
Bortnick became known as a strong rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
player, and came to John Scofield's attention when putting a band together to support his Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
release, Bump. A five month tour extended to 4½ years.
In 2003, Avi released his solo CD Clean Slate with 12 original songs.
Since 2003, Bortnick resides in New York City, playing with various bands, including Cornpone and Suite (with members of Verve recording artists The Brazilian Girls).