"...a natural gift for elegant phrasing" - All About Jazz
"The new trio has just released a recording titled Gently Disturbed, on which Maestro who recently turned 20 — stands out as a virtuoso, at times combining classical and modern jazz chords with the finesse of new stars like Mehldau, or like a relaxed Phillip Glass playing jazz.
And overall, it’s beautiful stuff." - The Prague Post
Time Out London:
Avishai Cohen Trio
Critics' Choice
Fri Aug 24 Ronnie Scott's, 47 Frith St, W1D 4HT
"...There's a driving intensity to this band that allows Cohen and drummer Mark Guilianam free reign, while mega-talented 20-year old piano prodigy Shai Maestro more than lives up to his apt surname..."
Biography:
Pianist Shai Maestro was born in Israel on February 5th 1987. He began playing classical piano at the age of 5. His first exposure to jazz music was at the age of 8, listening to Oscar Peterson's "Gershwin Songbook". He was later accepted to the Thelma – Yellin High School of Performing Arts in Givataim where he completed his studies with honors. While taking extended literature classes, Shai was one of the few students combining a major in the jazz and classical departments along with his regular studies.
While still a sophomore, he received a full tuition scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music's 5 weeks Summer Program for two consecutive years. While on a concert tour in the US, including a performance at the IAJE with the school's big-band, he auditioned to Berklee for the 4-year program and also received a full tuition scholarship.
In his senior year, Shai co-led the school's salsa ensemble, which introduced him to percussionist Roni Iwryn who then took him as his piano player in one of Israel's best salsa ensembles. The band performed regularly in a salsa club every Thursday night.
Shai studied jazz piano and RTC (Real Time Composition) with Opher Brayer for two years and is currently studying classical piano with Prof. Benjamin Oren of the Music Academy in Jerusalem. In the years 2004-2008 he won scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Fund for jazz piano. He also won the national jazz ensembles competition "Jazz Signs" twice (2002 and 2003).
Maestro began gaining recognition from his peers and the media and is performing regularly with Israel's best jazz artists in many jazz clubs and concert halls, alongside classical recitals, chamber music. He is playing solo piano improvised concerts worldwide. Shai has preformed with world known musicians such as Jimmy Green, Anthony Hart, Diego Urcola and more.
In the last two year Shai have been touring the world with Avishai Cohen. Platying on such venues as the Blue Note in NY, Ronnie Scott's in England, The Olympia hall in Paris, The Bataclan Theater in Paris, Vienne Jazz festival, Cork JF, Yoshi's (San Francisco), Zaragoza JF, Barcelona. and many many others.
3 records have been recently released.
Gently Disturbed is this trio's first record. The album has recieved rave reviews all over the world and has been top selling in a few countries. "Sensitive Hours" was released in Israel on August and have been top selling there to. The new Avishai Cohen album "Aurora" is released under Blue note records!
Shai also studied Indian music and tabla playing from the Sarud master Sanjey Kumar Sharma.
For more info check out www.myspace.com/avishaicohenmusic
*******NEW SHAI MAESTRO QUARTET REVIEW!********
Shai Maestro Quartet – Shablul jazz club, Tel aviv. 3.3.09
I have been to Shablul jazz club many times in the past year and I have never seen it so packed.
People kept on coming and filled the place completely – but when the show began, the unbelievable happened – the club fell into complete silence. No one spoke, no glass clattered.
Maestro opened the show with a very gentle and introvert piece on the piano, in his super-soft, quiet way of playing which does not try to stand out but still catches the attention of every single person in the hall. Silence prevailed in the club. It was as if Maestro's inner-peace affected all his listeners and made them obey new rules.
The miracle continued when his three fellow musicians joined him at the bandstand. Amir Bresler on drums, Gilad Abro on bass and Niv Toar on trumpet.
Niv Toar's trumpet playing didn't take over the entire space, as trumpeters often do. It flirted with the piano, almost whispering, very gently. The drums and the bass turned spine tingling tender.
This is not the first time that I am exposed to this magic. I have written about Maestro's performances before, especially those with Yuval Cohen. There is something very rare about the band's finesse, their ability to play so soft and tender, considering the genre and their very young age. But apparently, despite the age factor, these musicians know the secret as well as very experienced ones and maybe even better.
Maestro's music is very lyrical. It contains classical music and Israeli music.
The spectrum of influences is very wide, and when it comes to hard core jazz – Shai feels at home and delivers much more than most of the pianists I know.
There is something very modest and quiet about his personality, and at the same time it is very clear who leads the band.
In his very subtle way he knows how to grasp the other musicians attention and have them follow him with his story - and they are so attentive and amazingly in sync. A true pleasure.
Niv toar is very surprising in his ability to adjust to every small mood change in the music.
Each and every one of the band members, listens to his mates with modesty and respect, and together they create a whole, where no one steps on the other's toes while playing beautiful solos.
Gilad Abro is a great soloist, an excellent double-bass player that constantly surprises the listeners. It's as if he never stops evolving. His role in the band last night was very significant, and proved - to those who are still not convinced - that the upright bass isn't necessarily just an accompaniment instrument, but is also a solo instrument that can proudly stand at the front.
Amir Bresler (19) is such a talent that even if he was playing solo with no accompaniment it would have sounded like a complete musical piece. He has the combination of deep subtleness and burning fire. He is an extraordinary drummer.
The audience wouldn't let them off stage. The band was called for three encores, a very rare gesture these days.
Not only that the encores were excellent and diverse, it seemed like the band played them
happily and full heartedly and not out of an end-off-the-show obligation.
In conclusion: a perfect choice of musicians, right leadership by Maestro, excellent music and an ocean of ego-less talent on stage.
Naomi Gangi, Tapuz news website
LA REVIEW! (May 07)
COHEN MAKES A TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO THE JAZZ BAKERY *****
By Paula Edelstein
Fresh from a 17-city USA tour, Cohen's triumphant return to The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, CA showed just how popular his ensembles have become in America in just a few short years. Accompanied by the dynamic Mark Guilliana on drums and introducing the brilliant Shai Maestro on piano, the trio played songs from several of Cohen's previous releases and from his first "live" recording titled 'AS IS LIVE AT THE BLUE NOTE'.
A proliferation of styles from post bop, to free jazz, fused with North African and Middle Eastern influences were brilliantly performed and provided a thoughtful and comprehensive introduction to the range and passion of Shai Maetro's piano virtuosity, Cohen's complex nuance that justifies comparison to the great composers, and Guilliana's expert drumming techniques.
A consummate entertainer, Cohen's talents and bass skills were both potent and sentimental. His hip rhythmic improvisations spanned a broad spectrum of techniques that included percussive taps, bowing, and artful pizzicato that rapidly became the focus of his appreciative audience on such favorites as "Nu Nu," and his tribute to Shai called "Young Maestro." His agility and sensitivity soloing on "Remembering" was emotional and impeccable while his free styled dueting with both Maestro and Guilliana fostered an even greater interplay between the trio. With changes that stopped on a dime, and rapid fire note-for-note precision, the Avishai Cohen Trio was intense, passionate and entertaining.
With a full house on their feet, a rousing ovation brought them back for an encore. Ending the show with "Remembering" this powerful trio left an inspiring, lasting impression that opened new sounds of music right before your ears and ended with a second standing ovation.
NEW NY REVIEW! (Jan 07)
Final gig at 1am - Avishai Cohen Trio. Have seen this band so many times. Have loved their music perhaps more than any other music over the last couple of years. But this gig was the ONE. The massive ballroom full, anticipation high. But nothing of the last 4 days had prepared anyone for the electric tension of these three world class musicians, communicating in so rare and magical a way that there was surely a sixth sense at work. Hundreds on the edges of seats with excitement. Everyone transfixed in the same moment. And somehow time, though pounding by as Avishai drummed the body and soul of his bass, was standing still. No industry conference cynicism here - the audience in a standing ovation frenzy. The trio. Mark Guiliana (of my previous Heernt ravings) definitely my favourite drummer in the world - always surprising, switching from style to style with ease and an inspired bravery, creating whole new styles on the way.
And pianist Shai Maestro. A huge discovery. It's nothing short of ridiculous that someone only 19 years old can play with such assurity, creativity and wisdom. And therein lies the mystery of this music, which keeps us all locked in.
Reviewer: Jazzsharking
Thanks for adding me Shai! I'm really digging your playing in Avishai Cohen records, is what I listen more lately, really inspire me a lot all that you guys do!, come to listen my tracks when you can, I'll be honored! all the best from Buenos Aires! Nicolás
un fuerte abrazo Shai,gracias por compartir eso tan grande que llevas dentro,con lo que has nacido...te habia escrito algo muy bonito que me estaba saliendo del corazón,mientras escuchaba esa música con alma,pero lo he perdido al tocar el botón que no era...seguro que te llega en forma de energia,que es de lo que se trata...todo lo que te diga es poco,tú sabes que eres especial,yo sé que lo eres,al igual que Avishai,bueno,te deseo una larga vida llena de buenos momentos con amor y alegria en tu corazón,paz y sosiego en tu alma.Que Dios te bendiga hermano,cuidate... un fuerte abrazo.
