Gil Goldstein


Gil Goldstein is an American jazz pianist and accordionist. He has won 5 Grammy Awards and he was nominated 8 times.

Biography

He began studying accordion at age 5 after noticing it in The Lawrence Welk Show and stating he instantly connected with it personally, but later moved on to cello and piano at age 10. He studied at the Berklee College of Music and by 1973 was working with Pat Martino and Lee Konitz. He started with the Gil Evans Orchestra in the early 1980s and also worked with Wayne Shorter, Billy Cobham, and Jim Hall. He returned to accordion for an album by Michel Petrucciani and occasionally uses it on his solo albums. As an accordionist he toured with Richard Galliano in 2000 but also played piano on the tour. During the 1980s and 90s he was a member of the group Elements.
In 1990 he toured Germany with the Blues Brothers, temporarily replacing Leon Pendarvis on keyboards.
In 2007 he released the album The Music of Elton John with Steve Swallow, Paul Motian, and Italian saxophonist Pietro Tonolo. The quartet performed jazz arrangements of some of Elton John's most popular songs.
Goldstein composed music for the films Radio Inside and Simply Irresistible. He performed "I Love Paris" in the film De-Lovely. Two of his Grammy Awards were for his production and arrangement credits for the album Wide Angles by Michael Brecker. He has taught at New York University.

Discography

As leader

Sources:

As a member

The Manhattan Project

With Wayne Shorter, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, Michel Petrucciani and Pete Levin

As sideman

With Gil EvansBud and Bird Live at Umbria Jazz Collaboration with Helen MerrillFarewell
With Letizia GambiIntroducing Letizia Gambi Blue Monday
With Jim HallAll Across the City Dialogues
With Pat MartinoExit We'll Be Together Again Starbright
With Pat MethenySecret [Story (album)|Secret Story] A Map of the World
With Tiger OkoshiEchoes of a Note Two Sides to Every Story
With others