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"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"...a natural gift for elegant phrasing" - All About JazzTime Out London:Avishai Cohen Trio
Critics' ChoiceFri Aug 24 Ronnie Scott's, 47 Frith St, W1D 4HT
New York-based Israeli bassist, a prodigy of Chick Corea and Horace Silver, whose work shifts from heavy duty post bop to Jewish folk music via funk and bebop interludes. Equally deadly on both upright and bass guitar, on this UK visit Cohen showcases his new streamlined trio, also featured on his barn-storming new album 'As Is? Live At The Blue Note'. 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:Young 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 2004-2006 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 and solo piano improvised concerts.In 2003-2004 he was chosen to be a part of the jam session opening ensemble at the Red Sea Jazz Festival and in 2005 performed as part of the concert program.Shai also studied Indian music and tabla playing from the Sarud master Sanjey Kumar Sharma.Shai has recently joined the Avishai Cohen Trio and you can catch him performing live with Avishai Cohen and Mark Guiliana all over the globe! Just check out www.avishaimusic.com for the gig guide or log into www.myspace.com/avishaicohenmusic for more info!In 1997, Maestro was first exposed to Avishai Cohen’s music in a concert of the Chick Corea Trio with Gary Burton in Sweden. Avishai's music had and still has a huge influence on Shai's musical development alongside with the influences of Bach, Chopin, Beethoven, Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Chick Corea and many others as well as German authors Herman Hesse and the Israeli philosopher Yishayahu Leibowitz.NEW LA REVIEW! (May 07)COHEN MAKES A TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO THE JAZZ BAKERY *****By Paula EdelsteinInnovative, exuberant and unconventional, Avishai Cohen has found both popular appeal and intellectual appreciation for his emotional intensity and musical sophistication as a bass player, composer and bandleader around the world. Setting his music in its social context, Cohen hears beyond the written notes, shaping his remarkable music into skillful, ingenious interpretations that are as diverse as his ensembles, friends, and mentors who have educated and inspired him.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
