International Pianist and Composer Anat Fort is one of Israel’s most notable jazz musicians. Since the beginning of her development she has always done things differently and paved the way for those who followed. She was the first Israeli to graduate from William Paterson University, published her first CD independently at a time when it was not common, and was the first Israeli to put out an album on the prestigious ECM label.
Up to date, she has published three albums of original music under that label, two of them with her international trio which has been active for over twenty five years.
For nearly 30 years she has led a very rich musical life in New York, during which she cooperated with the best jazz musicians in the world such as Paul Motian, Matt Wilson, Tony Malaby, Chris Cheek and many more. She has earned many compositional grants in Israel and abroad and has been an active performer and composer with orchestras and chamber ensembles in many settings.
In 2009 she returned to Israel and still keeps an active performing and recording career around the world with her trio. Side by side, she embarked on a rich teaching career and has been tutoring generations of young creative jazz musicians at the Tel-Aviv Center for jazz studies and at the Academy for Music and Dance in Jerusalem, as well as in workshops around the world.
In 2018 she received the Prime Minister award for jazz composition and was the first (and only, up to date) woman of receive this prize.
In addition to her international career, Fort has been collaborating with top Israeli musicians such as Shlomo Ydov with whom she performs a lot in duo, and Ethiopian-born saxophonist and singer Abate Berihun.
She released a live album with Shalom Hanoch, and an album of lullabies in different languages with musician-vocalist Ayelet Rose Gottlieb.
Since 2019 she has been recording for Sunnyside Records in New York. In August 2025 she released “The Dreamworld ion Paul Motian” - a studio album dedicated to the music of drums legend Paul Motian, with who continues to influences generation of jazz musicians years after his death. The album was recorded in NYC with musicians who played with Paul and were highly influenced by him has gained a full recognition and appreciation.
Anat is an improviser in her soul and her art is a source of inspiration for musicians worldwide.
