While you might not recognize the name, you would instantly identify the violin artistry of Charlie Bisharat. His work has graced the albums of such pop phenoms as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jane’s Addiction, and Aerosmith. His diversity can be heard on the works of Jazz and World Music artists Strunz & Farah, Don Grusin, Oscar Castro-Neves, and Doc Severinsen. And his accomplishments have been featured in scores of soundtracks from Swordfish , Texas Rangers , Steal Big Steal Little to on-screen performances of Austin Powers Gold Member , The Drew Carey Show , and Friends .
A Grammy Award-winning performer, Mr. Bisharat has toured the world time and again with jazz and new age groups as varied as Shadowfax, Kitaro, Yanni, and John Tesh. He has composed and produced tracks for record-setting album projects as well.
His range of styles has led him from pop to jazz to classical, where he is often heard subbing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He is a staple of Hollywood’s grandest broadcasts, appearing annually in the Grammy and Academy Awards, among others.
His wide array of skills is best exemplified on his own recording on Universal Music Group’s Along The Amazon , an all-star album featuring some of jazz and pop’s greatest artists. Some recent collaborations include the acclaimed Al-Andalus Ensemble, having released the evocative CD 21Strings . The group travels the globe presenting concerts and promoting Middle East culture and the arts.
A published author as well, Mr. Bisharat has written and recorded the jazz improvisational book and CD Beyond Classical Violin for Hal Leonard Music.
Mr. Bisharat’s compositions have been featured in movies and television as well as a myriad of recording projects. His works for small ensembles range from the original opus Lying In Wait which appears on the album Subliminal Blues And Greens by the all-female quartet Cello, to string arrangements for rock guitarist Andy Summers of The Police.
Mr. Bisharat continues to travel the globe performing in-concert and recording with some of the most accomplished musicians of our day. Live appearances have included Russia, Spain, Abu Dhabi, Jordan, Indonesia, and Brazil.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mr. Bisharat is in demand as one of Southern California’s busiest violinists. Television and feature film scores make up a generous portion of his recording schedule in town. In addition, he has appeared as a guest speaker at the Henry Mancini Institute and often lends a hand with the Yamaha Music Education programs both in the U.S. and abroad.
Photo Credit: Lars Frazer