Gilad
  Barakan

Gilad Barakan’s Unsettled reimagines the acoustic guitar in an expanded and unconventional role—a lyrical lead voice carried by the organic character of the instrument. Joining him is a new generation of internationally sought-after musicians: pianist Ahmed Alom (Pedrito Martinez), bassist Tal Mashiach (Anat Cohen), and drummer Ofri Nehemya (Shai Maestro, Kurt Rosenwinkel).

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Spending more than a decade performing and writing alongside Grammy-winning artists from around the world, Gilad Barakan has built an international career rooted in collaboration and live performance. At 20, he received the Outstanding Player Award from Musicians Institute, presented by Scott Henderson, and soon began touring internationally with a range of artists. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2015, he worked closely with Venezuelan singer Nella as a co-writer, producer, and touring guitarist. He later produced Tamara Jokić’s 2025 album Kuća, collaborated extensively with Turkish singer Elif Sanchez, and is currently touring with Grammy-winning vocalist Chandrika Tandon.

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Unsettled (2026) opens with “Free But Lonely,” leaning into a reflective atmosphere shaped by a warm, vocal-like melodic line. “Quarter Sephardi” fuses Latin jazz and flamenco elements with shifting, intricate time signatures, culminating in a virtuosic melodic refrain and energetic live solos. “Lylaly-La” and “Unsettled” further expand the album’s dynamic and emotional range through contrasting textures and evolving forms. Lyrical sensibilities are set against complex rhythmic frameworks, creating a crossover jazz record that remains singable yet structurally sophisticated.