Yossi Fine
Yossi Fine | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Joseph Thomas Fine |
Born | Paris, France | December 7, 1964
Genres | World, reggae, funk, jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician, producer |
Instrument(s) | Bass, guitar |
Years active | 1981–present |
Labels | Avila Street Records |
Website | yossifine.com |
Joseph Thomas Fine (born December 7, 1964), known professionally as Yossi Fine, is an Israeli bassist and producer. fronted the world music/reggae/funk band Ex-Centric Sound System.
Biography
Personal life
Fine was born in Paris, France, to a West Indian vocalist mother and an Israeli guitarist father.[1]
Early career
At the age of 16, Fine began working as a session musician in Israel.[
Ex-Centric Sound System and solo work
In 1997, Fine formed Ex-Centric Sound System with drummer Michael Avgil and three
In 2007, he released the solo album Live in Jerusalem, consisting of four tracks culled from his one-man bass tour. "Few people are brave, or crazy, enough to stand on stage with a few simple drum loops, an effects board and a bass, and go for it. Yet that's exactly what he does, amazingly well," wrote
Collaborations
Fine has frequently worked with Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré. After remixing a track for 2008's Vieux Farka Touré Remixed: UFOs Over Bamako, he took a larger role in Touré's career, producing and playing bass on his 2009 album, Fondo, as well as remixing a track on the follow-up, Other Roads: Fondo Remixed, at Fine's studio in Novato, California.[8] Fine plays bass in The Touré-Raichel Collective, a collaboration between Touré and Idan Raichel, which led to the 2012 album The Tel Aviv Sessions.[9] Haaretz singled out his bass playing for being "flexible and dynamic."[10]
Fine has performed, recorded with and produced music for musicians across the globe, including
Considered a pivotal force in the evolution of the bass,
Yossi Fine & Ben Aylon
In 2016 Yossi moved from Bass to Microtonal guitar and together with drummer Ben Aylon formed a band Yossi Fine & Ben Aylon. The style of music is defined as 'Blue Desert' or Afro Arab Trance, inspired by regional music styles. In 2018 the band released their debut album 'Blue Desert' and toured Europe, USA, Canada, China, India and Israel.
Artistic style
An early adopter of
Fine has called U2 guitarist The Edge a huge influence, stating that his "echo-laden sound" is "the most innovative without being too technical."[11]
Selected discography
Yossi Fine & Ben Aylon
- Blue Desert (2018, Blue Desert Music)
Solo
- Live in Jerusalem (2007, EXS Music)
- "Peace Is the Answer" (single) – Skyler Jett& Yossi Fine (2012, First Kiss Records)
With Ex-Centric Sound System
- Electric Voodooland (2000, Relativity)
- West Nile Funk (2004, IndieLand/EXS)
- Afro Riddim Sessions, Vol. 1 (2006, In the Pocket Records)
- Live In San Francisco (2010, Avila Street Records)
- Premixes (2011, Avila Street Records)
- Re Spect (5-CD box set) (2011, Avila Street Records)
Featured on (playing bass)
- Rubén Blades – Nothing But the Truth (1988, Wounded Bird Records)
- Stanley Jordan – Cornucopia (1990, Blue Note Records)
- David Bowie – Outside (1995, Arista/BMG)
- Noa – Calling (1996, Geffen Records)
- Karsh Kale – Realize (2001, Six Degrees Records)
- Deepak Chopra – A Gift of Love, Vol. 2 (2002, Tommy Boy Records)
- Karsh Kale – Broken English (2006, Six Degrees Records)
- Cheb i Sabbah – Devotion (2008, Six Degrees Records)
- Vieux Farka Touré – Fondo (2009, Six Degrees Records)
- Vieux Farka Touré – Live (2010, Six Degrees Records)
- The Touré-Raichel Collective – The Tel Aviv Session (2012, Cumbancha)
Producer
- Shabak Samech - Shabak (1995, NMC)
- Shabak Samech - Be'atifa Shel Mamtak (1997, NMC) (trans: In A Candy Wrapper)
- Emil Zrihan – Ashkelon (1999, Piranha)
- Hamsa Lila – Gathering One (2003, BRG)
- Hadag Nahash – Lazuz (2003, Levantini)
- Hadag Nahash – Homer Mekomi(2004, Levantini)
- Eljuri - "En Paz" (2008, Manovill Records)
- Vieux Farka Touré – Fondo (2009, Six Degrees Records)
- Hadag Nahash – 6 (2010, HaTav HaShmini)
- Hassan Hackmooun- Unity 2014
- Yossi Fine&Ben Aylon- Blue Desert 2017
- Yossi Fine&Ben Aylon- Blue Desert Live 2020
TV and film appearances
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – performing with Ofra Haza (1989)
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno – with Stanley Jordan (1989)
- The Arsenio Hall Show – with Me’Shell Ndegeocello (1994)
- The Word (BBC) – with Me’Shell Ndegeocello (2004)
- Awake Zion (dir. Monica Haim) (2005)
- The Prophecy (2005)
- The Making of Fondo (2009)
References
- National Geographic. Accessed March 12, 2012.
- ^ a b c Peter Margasak, "Ex-Centric Sound System," Chicago Reader, March 9, 2000.
- ^ "Yossi Fine Q & A + Video – Pt. 3," Guitarkadia, October 20, 2008.
- ^ a b c AvilaStreetRecords.com. Archived January 7, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Accessed March 12, 2012.
- ^ "Yossi Fine & Ex-Centric Sound System video," NME. Accessed March 12, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Derek Beres, "Bass Makes the World Go 'Round," PopMatters, January 24, 2008.
- ^ "Yossi the Prophet," Music 24, December 27, 2006.
- ^ a b Andrew Gilbert, "Ali Farka Toure [sic] brings Mali to the World," Los Angeles Times, July 5, 2009.
- Jerusalem Post, February 26, 2012.
- ^ Ben Shalev, "Israeli instrumental albums strike multiple chords," Haaretz, March 9, 2012.
- ^ a b Jimmy Leslie, "Ex-Centric Sound System, Vieux Farka Toure, Yossi Fine, Extreme Looped Grooves," Bass Player, November 2011.