Yuval Amihai

Yuval Amihai was born in Beer Sheva, Israel in 1981. He began studying the piano at the age of eight, and five years later switched to electric guitar. He soon discovered his passion for improvisation and jazz, and during his high school years he began to travel regularly to Tel Aviv to study with Israel’s leading musicians, and to participate in workshops and master classes. At the age of 16 he started performing professionally with jazz bands around the country and leading several projects with his original music. At 19, Yuval wrote an original composition for his hometown’s string quartet and for the renowned Oud and Violin player Yair Dalal. His music was selected by one of Israel’s leading composers and music educators Michael Wolpe, and was performed in concert halls across Israel. Soon afterwards he started studying at The Jerusalem Academy of Music and the Rimon Jazz School in Tel Aviv and participated in various musical projects. In 2005 Yuval moved to Paris. He quickly made his way into the local jazz scene and started playing in Paris clubs and venues. The following year he studied at the Jazz department of the Paris Region Conservatory, graduating two years later. Since 2008 Yuval leads his quintet, the Yuval Amihai Ensemble, with whom he performs music which is strongly influenced by his childhood in Israel. The ensemble has won numerous awards, including the Grand Prize and the 1st composition prize at the "La Défense" National Jazz Competition in 2009, The 1st prize in the Saint-Germain Jazz festival Contest in Paris (2008), and the 3rd prize in the international jazz competition of Hoeilaart, Belgium. The band has performed in opening act concerts for renowned artists as Avishai Cohen, Bojan Z, Rabia Abu-Khalil and Kyle Eastwood, and played in numerous Jazz festivals, concert halls and jazz clubs in France and Europe, including Nancy Jazz Pulsations, La Défense Jazz Festival, Sunset/Sunside Jazz Club (Paris), Jazz à Staint-Gérmain-des-Près Festival (Paris), Guitar Art Café (Belgrade, Serbie), Budo Tomovic Theater (Podgorica, Monténégro), National theaters of Amiens, Sceaux & Valencienne. In 2012 Yuval released his first album with his quintet, "Yuval Amihai Ensemble", which was acclaimed by critics and received the "Chosen Album" label by French leading jazz critics website CitizenJazz.com. This was followed by a full support by the SACEM organisation's grants program for self-produced albums. In 2015, Yuval records his second album "LONGING" with his new trio, including bass player Damien Varaillon and drummer Gautier Garrigue. The album was released May 25, 2015 (distributed by L'Autre Distribution). Acclaimed by critics it receives the "Chosen album” label by CitizenJazz.com as well as the “Discovery” label in the Jazz News magazine. The trio is invited on several radio shows, including on the national France Musique radio and TSF Jazz radio. The CD release concert is held in September that year at the Duc des Lombards Jazz club in Paris. Jazz guitarist & composer