Kobi Yakob Arad (Hebrew: קובי ארד; born: October 2, 1981) is an Israeli-born[1] American jazz pianist, composer, and music producer. He is known for being the pianist, vocalist, and bandleader of the Kobi Arad Band.[2] He has won a Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Award[3] and an Independent Music Award,[4] both for his work as a solo artist and as part of the Kobi Arad Band. In 2024, he was nominated for a Hollywood Independent Music Award.
He has collaborated with artists such as Stevie Wonder,[5] Cindy and Carlos Santana, Jack DeJohnette, and Roy Ayers.[2]
Arad was born on October 2, 1981[6] and raised in Haifa, Israel.[7] He earned his bachelor's degree at Tel Aviv University and became the first musician to earn a doctorate in contemporary improvisation and third stream from the New England Conservatory of Music.[2][7]
While living in Israel, Arad participated as a keyboardist in a trio with Asaf Sirkis and Gabriel Mayer in the 1990s.[8] Arad also collaborated with Stevie Wonder and his manager Stephanie Andrews at the Berklee Performance Center in 2005.[9]
Arad released his album Sparks of Understanding in 2009, which featured an appearance from drummer Bob Moses.[10]
Arad collaborated with recording engineer Robert Margouleff on The Experience Project in 2015.[11] In 2015, he also released the albums Webern Re-Visioned, which consisted of re-imaginings of works by Anton Webern, and Superflow, which is a collaboration with Roy Ayers, featuring bassist Jonathan Levy.[9]
He also recorded Ellington Upside Down, a Duke Ellington tribute CD, with the Kobi Arad Band.[5] The album’s mashup of “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “It Ain’t Mean a Thing” was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental at the 17th Independent Music Awards (2019).[4] Arad’s album Segments went on to win Best Jazz Instrumental in the album category at the same event.[4]
At the 2021 Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA) Awards, Arad won the Independent Music Artist award in Best Jazz for his performance of “Bemsha Swing” by Thelonious Monk.[3]
On June 12th 2024 Arad was nominated for the second time for the Hollywood Independent Music Awards with 'Fields' for Best Jazz Fusion (Best piano solo / collab). This nomination features Victor Wooten, Cindy Blackman Santana, Ricky Kej & Lonnie Park.[12]