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| Miri Ben Ari |
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"To play hip-hop, I've had to take everything that I had, everything I know, everything, to do all that I'm doing now."
-Miri Ben Ari
| Date of Birth: 1978 |
| Birthplace: Israel |
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| Miri Ben-Ari may not be all that well-known by name, but her dynamic violin playing was an integral part of Kanye West's smash debut The College Dropout. Prior to her breakthrough as a much sought-after musical collaborator, Miri released a couple of jazz-oriented recordings. The Hip Hop Violinist, her 2005 release, includes the single "Sunshine to the Rain," featuring Scarface and Anthony Hamilton. |
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| Mixing elements of classical, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and world music, Israeli-born violin virtuoso Miri Ben-Ari has brought an exotic Middle Eastern flavor to contemporary urban sounds. |
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Miri Ben-Ari was born in Israel in 1978, and raised in a small town near Tel Aviv. She began to play the violin as a child and became a classical music prodigy, drawing the attention of legendary classical violinists Isaac Stern and Yehudi Menuhin. She attended Master classes under them, and when, at the age of 10, lessons became unaffordable for her family, Stern recommended Ben-Ari for a scholarship from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. The young prodigy was accepted, and was given her first violin from the organization.
Upon entering mandatory military service at the age of 17, she was selected to become a part of the acclaimed Israeli Army String Quartet. She was also put in charge of cultural activities, which included organizing entertainment for the soldiers. It was during her stint in the army that Ben-Ari discovered jazz, and quickly became enamored by the complex musical form, especially the playing of saxophonist Charlie Parker.
Following her military service, Ben-Ari relocated to New York City in 1997, to attend the Mannes School of Music and further her jazz training. She studied under Betty Carter, as part of the late jazz legend's last "Jazz Ahead" program. She made her international recording debut that same year, appearing on Roseanna Vitro's tribute to the music of Ray Charles, Catchin' Some Rays.
A showcase at the renowned Blue Note club led to a contract with Half Note Records. Ben-Ari released her debut album Sahara just after wrapping up her studies in May of 1999. The recording received good reviews, and opened the doors for guest appearances on albums by a variety of artists, including Ted Nash Double Quartet with Wynton Marsalis, Santi Debriano and Blackmore's Night. |
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© Lester Cohen
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