Raul da Gama, Jazz da Gama Rotem Sivan is a brave new – and brand new – voice of the amplified guitar. His playing is profound and his style novel and while other musicians of his ilk need to retire to a place of solitude to woodshed, Rotem Sivan can both woodshed and play where … Read More
George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly Tensile toned guitarist Rotem Sivan mixes trio and solo performances on this collection of originals with a team of Haggai Cohen Milo/b and Colin Stranahan/dr. He has a subtle quietude to his delivery, weaving around Stranahan’s brushes on the suave “Shar” and lyrical “Aloof.” The team gets more assertive with … Read More
Dave Sumner, Bandcamp The disconnect between the vivid melodic imagery on Antidote and the casual way it’s delivered is jarring. Guitarist Rotem Sivan, bassist Haggai Cohen Milo, and drummer Colin Stranahan layer nuance after nuance on these pieces. These little details—the bass arco passages on title-track “Antidote,” the ingenious reworking of “Over the Rainbow,” the contrast of … Read More
Anthony Dean-Harris, Next Bop Rotem Sivan is one of my favorite guitar players. He’s a nimble player and an engaging composer, and his trio including bassist haggai Cohen Milo and drummer Colin Stranahan are gelling magnificently. The featured songs with vocalist/ukulele player Gracie Terzian are sweet little treats that pop up here and there, giving … Read More
by Ron Schepper, Textura It’s telling that Antidote, jazz guitarist Rotem Sivan’s fourth album as a leader and second with trio mates bassist Haggai Cohen Milo and drummer Colin Stranahan, includes Arlen-Yarburg’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love,” given how much the album’s other nine tracks seem more song-like than … Read More
Nate Chinen, WBGO An Israeli guitarist active on the New York scene, Rotem Sivan has a pealing, silvery tone and a penchant for flowing lyricism. He has made a series of worthy albums with his trio, the fourth of which, Antidote, appears this week. It opens with a tune called “Shahar,” a buoyant proposition: bassist Haggai … Read More
by Filipe Freitas, Jazz Trail According to Israeli guitarist Rotem Sivan, Antidote, his fourth outing, was a product of the shock and heartbreak he felt with the ending of a 7-year relationship. Throughout this new body of work, mostly composed of original compositions, the music became a genuine vehicle for him to express inner emotions. … Read More
Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz Heartbreak knows no true cure, but music can act as something of an antidote or coping mechanism to assist in dealing with it and suffering through it. That’s what guitarist-composer Rotem Sivan discovered after a long-term relationship came to a swift and unexpected end. He turned to music to help … Read More
