Solo : Miniatures & Tales

Description

IN 2025, SHAI MAESTRO BEGINS A NEW CHAPTER: HIS FIRST SOLO PIANO RECORDING. Born in 1987, Shai Maestro is one of the most inventive and influential pianists of his generation. Since the debut of his trio in 2011, he has developed a distinct musical voice—fluid, expressive, and deeply lyrical—that has established him as a key figure in contemporary jazz; blending improvisation, composition, and global influences to create a sound that is both cinematic and deeply personal. Of Israeli origin, Maestro began classical music at the age of five and discovered jazz a few years later through KEITH JARRETT and OSCAR PETERSON. He was only nineteen when he joined bassist AVISHAI COHEN’s trio and co-wrote the legendary album “GENTLY DISTURBED” (2008), which took him to perform around the world. It was in 2011 that he eventually formed his own trio, recording six albums and confirming his reputation as a singular voice in modern jazz. With his latest releases on the ECM Records label, produced by MANFRED EICHER, Maestro follows in the lineage of legendary pianists such as KEITH JARRETT, PAUL BLEY and CHICK COREA. His quartet, made up of drummer OFRI NEHEMYA, bassist JORGE ROEDER and trumpeter PHILIP DIZACK, continues to explore new frontiers in contemporary jazz. Their latest album, HUMAN (2021), recorded during the pandemic, illustrates Maestro’s ability to create musical landscapes that are both intimate and expansive. In 2025, Shai Maestro begins a new chapter: his first solo piano recording, marking the start of a long-term series. This project explores the subtle balance between structure and spontaneity and reflects the evolution of his relationship with composition and improvisation. Inspired by a lesson from CHICK COREA—“In this business, there are only three things: composition, composition… and composition”—Maestro has spent years refining his approach, allowing improvisation to gradually reshape his writing. His solo work is divided into “MINIATURES”—short spontaneous improvisations—and “TALES,” extended explorations of melodic and harmonic ideas. This series bears witness to his artistic evolution and captures a singular moment while promising continued development for the upcoming volumes. Alongside this new creative phase, Maestro signs a long-term contract with the prestigious label naïve records. This collaboration offers him a platform to bring his ambitious artistic vision to life, expanding his audience and spreading his music worldwide. Beyond his performances, Maestro’s creativity extends to film music, orchestral collaborations and production. He has composed for the TOKYO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA and created his orchestral work ALICE with the ORQUESTRA DE CÂMARA PORTUGUESA in 2022. Today, with his solo piano series and his partnership with naïve records, he continues to redefine his artistic path—always searching, always evolving.