Itai Kriss is a dynamic flutist whose musical style encompasses Jazz, Latin and Middle Eastern sounds. Born into a musical household in Israel, to a British father and a South African mother, Itai started playing flute when he was 9. Alongside private lessons, he broadened his knowledge of music in the jazz streams of the Tel Aviv School for the Arts (’90-’94) and the prestigious Telma Yellin High School for the Arts (94-97). At Telma Yellin, an interest in swing, bebop and hard bop, along with his love for local Middle Eastern sounds, led to a period of experimentation in an ensemble of friends that resulted in Itai winning the Jerusalem Municipality competition for young composers. That grant financed the recording and release of his first album, Sababa, in 2000.
from http://www.entourent.net
