Lior Yekutieli – Guitarist, Composer, Improviser Lior Yekutieli, born in Israel in 1964, began his musical journey at the age of nine with classical guitar. By twelve, he was performing live recitals, on television and radio, and playing as a soloist with the Israeli Chamber Orchestra. Between 1975 and 1983, he was awarded the prestigious American-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarship each year, recognizing his exceptional talent and promise. At twenty, Lior expanded his musical horizons into jazz, developing a distinctive voice as both a composer and improviser. In 1989, he moved to Los Angeles to study at the Musicians Institute, where he collaborated with leading musicians, including bassist Jeff Berlin. This period marked the beginning of a rich international career. In the early 1990s, Lior was invited to perform jazz concerts across Europe. During this time, he formed the acclaimed trio Exit with bassist Yiotis Kiourtsoglou and drummer Marc Halbheer. The group toured extensively and recorded two albums featuring Lior’s original compositions: Exit (1995) and Exit 2000. Returning to Israel in 1992, Lior continued to collaborate with top Israeli artists while dedicating himself to composition. His classical works include Moods (2000), a suite for solo guitar published by Orphee Editions, and Fairy Tales Sonatina (2010), both of which showcase his unique fusion of classical and jazz influences. A serious hand injury sidelined Lior from performing for nearly a decade (2001–2010). Following his recovery, he made a powerful return to the stage, performing at festivals and concerts around the world, including the Felicja Blumenthal Guitar Festival (Tel Aviv), the Kozani Jazz Festival (Greece), and as a soloist with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. He also gave concerts and masterclasses in India’s "World Guitar Nights" and performed at jazz festivals in Albania and Switzerland. In 2019, he was featured at the International Guitar Festival in Tel Aviv. In recent years, Lior has released a series of solo albums that reflect his musical maturity and personal expression: Finally Alone (2018), About Time (2020), Sketches (2024), and Recent Memories (2025). His trio Exit reunited to record Ageless (2024), celebrating over three decades of musical camaraderie. Lior Yekutieli's artistry blends classical precision with the freedom of jazz, resulting in a sound that is both sophisticated and deeply personal.