As the newest acquisition of ECM, Shai Maestro becomes part of the line of famous jazz pianists who have defined the label: Keith Jarrett, Paul Bley and Chick Corea, among others. This fall sees the release of the album by the New York pianist and his close-knit trio. In his compositions he mixes jazz with all kinds of influences, for example from his native Israel.
Shai Maestro began playing classical piano at the age of 5 and after listening to Oscar Peterson at the age of 8 he became mad about jazz. He turned down offers from prestigious American music schools and at 19 he became pianist with the famous double bassist Avishai Cohen. For five years he celebrated success at the best known festivals and venues in the trio with Cohen and drummer Mark Guiliana. Shai moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he formed his own trio in 2011.
‘A formidable composer and performer who frequently fashions the sounds of his native Israel into the stuff of improvised fantasias’ (The Guardian).