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James Silberstein
Biography
Although not a huge name in the jazz world, guitarist James Silberstein is a skillful, hard-swinging improviser who has been contributing to the New York City jazz scene since the late '70s. Silberstein is capable of playing electric jazz-funk and has, over the years, backed some non- jazz artists (including the Drifters). But straight-ahead jazz is his primary focus, and those who are aware of Silberstein tend to think of him as a hard bop/post-bop player with a major appreciation of jazz' pre-fusion guitarists. Indeed, most of his big influences are bebop, hard bop or post-bop guitarists who emerged in the '40s, '50s or '60s -- people who range from Barney Kessel and Tal Farlow to Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, and George Benson (mainly the young, straight-ahead Benson of the '60s as opposed to the more commercial, R&B-minded musician he became in the '70s). Silberstein was born in New York City but spent most of his pre-adult years in suburban White Plains, NY. The guitarist (who began studying the guitar at 12) was 16 when his family left suburbia and moved back to the city, and Manhattan's Central Park was where an 18-year-old Silberstein met Brazilian guitarist Gaudencio Thiago de Mello, who did a lot to encourage his interest in straight-ahead jazz guitar and urged him to check out Brazilian guitarists such as Bola Sete and Baden Powell.
Selected Discography