Oz Noy

Virtuoso guitarist and composer Oz Noy has carved out a distinctive niche within the contemporary music landscape by creating an electrifying fusion of jazz, funk, rock, blues, and R&B. His innovative approach, described succinctly by Noy himself as “Jazz—it just doesn’t sound like it,” has captivated audiences worldwide and earned him widespread acclaim among fans, critics, and fellow musicians alike. Born in Israel, Oz embarked on his professional music career at the remarkably young age of 13, swiftly distinguishing himself across multiple genres. By age 16, he had already established himself as a leading guitarist, performing alongside many of Israel’s most prominent artists. By age 24, Oz had become one of the most in-demand session guitarists in the country and held a pivotal role as a member of the house band on Israel’s top-rated television show for over two years. Oz’s artistic journey took a transformative leap when he relocated to New York City in 1996. His arrival in the vibrant music scene of New York marked the beginning of a prolific career, characterized by an infectious groove and genre-defying sonic explorations. Quickly making his mark, he began collaborating with some of the most revered musicians in the industry, including drummers Keith Carlock, Anton Fig, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Dave Weckl, as well as bassists Will Lee, James Genus, and Reggie Washington. In 2003, Oz introduced himself formally to the music world with his debut album, “Oz Live!”, recorded at the legendary Bitter End in Greenwich Village. His breakthrough came shortly thereafter, signing with Magna Carta Records and releasing his critically acclaimed studio debut “Ha!” in 2005. This groundbreaking release featured his signature all-star lineup, including Anton Fig, Keith Carlock, Will Lee, and James Genus, and boasted special guest appearances by Mike Stern and George Whitty. Oz’s discography rapidly expanded with celebrated albums such as “Fuzzy” (2007), featuring the talents of Vinnie Colaiuta, Jimmy Johnson, and Jim Beard, and “Schizophrenic” (2009), which included guest musician Steve Lukather. He then ventured into blues-infused territories with “Twisted Blues Vol. 1” (2011) and “Twisted Blues Vol. 2” (2014), highlighting collaborations with esteemed artists Eric Johnson, Allen Toussaint, Warren Haynes, Chick Corea, John Medeski, and Gregoire Maret. In subsequent years, Oz continued his sonic experimentation with releases such as the live “Asian Twistz” (2015), recorded during an acclaimed Asian tour, and “Who Gives A Funk” (2016), featuring celebrated musicians Joe Bonamassa, Robben Ford, and Dweezil Zappa, among others. His innovative trio, Ozone Squeeze, debuted in 2017, showcasing fresh creative directions alongside drummer Darren Stanley and vocalist-keyboardist Rai Thistlethwayte. Sara Niemietz joined the band for their second album, “Squeeze It!”