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Shai Maestro is one of the most talented pianists of the thirty-something generation. Since his debut with his trio in 2011, Shai has tried to bring out his strong personal identity in a context as demanding and full of history and challenging stories as that of the "piano trio". After various formative experiences (but also a trio with Avishai Cohen, double bass, and Mark Giuliana, drums), it is anything but a coincidence that in 2018 Shai Maestro became an ECM artist, invited by Manfred Eicher to be part of a group of jazz pianists who defined the sound of the label: just think of Keith Jarrett, Paul Bley and Chick Corea.
But Shai Maestro certainly didn't stop. Open to a thousand influences, from klezmer to the world of symphony and soundtracks, after intense international tours he signed for Sony: from here collaborations emerged both with the world of pop and electronics and with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. He returns to Vicenza after six years, again at the Olimpico: in 2019 he was in a trio, this year in solo, in an ideal comparison between different piano languages with Sullivan Fortner.
Shai Maestro, piano
Sullivan Fortner has literally been one of the pianists most requested by his American colleagues for years. He was born in 1986 in New Orleans and is fully part of the jazz rebirth of the most historic city of jazz, which for too long remained in the annals almost only as a museum reference.
His acclaimed technical prowess has even somehow overshadowed his incredible artistic stature. Yet Fortner knows how to move with unprecedented ease between his debt to tradition (it is unlikely that this is not the case for a native of Louisiana) and his attention to and adherence to contemporary languages. Now, beyond the comments in the press and the multiple awards, what is surprising is the unconditional esteem that his fellow pianists, such as Jason Moran and Brad Mehldau, have for him. Today, finally, Fortner has decided to no longer be just the pianist discovered by Roy Hargrove, launched by Winton Marsalis and made popular by the great singers (Cécile McLorin Salvant, Diane Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Samara Joy). After his last album "Solo Game" (2024), where he plays piano, Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes, vocoder, music box, celesta, drums and various percussions, he undertook a very long solo tour, which will touch on Italy in the only date at the Olimpico in Vicenza.
Sullivan Fortner, piano
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Shai Maestro Biography
Pianist Shai Maestro was born in Israel on February 5th 1987. He began playing classical piano at the age of 5 under the instruction of Ms. Irena Krivatz. His first exposure to Jazz music was at the age of 8 while listening to Oscar Peterson’s records and particularly “The Gershwin Songbook”.
Maestro was later accepted to the Thelma – Yellin High School of Performing Arts in Givataim, Israel where he completed his studies with honors. While taking extended literature classes, Shai was one of the few students combining a major both in the jazz and classical departments along with his regular studies.
At the age of 16, Maestro attended Berklee College of Music’s ‘5 week Summer Program’ in Boston where he auditioned for the full time (4 years) program, and received a full scholarship. Maestro never took this offer. That’s when he got a phone call from Avishai Cohen (Double Bass player and composer, known for his career both as a sideman for Chick Corea and for his current career as a successful bandleader) and was invited to join the band. Maestro joined Avishai Cohen’s Trio together with drummer Mark Guiliana where he played for 5 years all around the world.
In 2011, Maestro left Avishai’s group to pursue his own career as a band leader.
“It was the right time. I felt this bubbling energy inside that led me to continue my road and to take this difficult leap towards becoming a band leader”.
Shai Maestro Trio was formed in July 2010 in Brooklyn after playing at Maestro’s practice studio.
The trio went into the studio to record only a few months after it’s beggining. their first album simply called “Shai Maestro Trio” for the French label “Laborie Jazz”.
The album was received amazingly well. Intense tours started immediately after and the trio began playing around the world in festivals, concert halls and jazz club, receiving incredible responses from audiences, peers and the media everywhere they go. In 2012 they shared the stage with Chick Corea’s group, Tigran Hamasyan’s quintet, Esperanza Spalding group and Diana Krall’s band.
Three more albums followed ("The Road to Ithaca", "Untold Stories", "The Stone Skipper") and all were received very positively.
“The trio is constantly evolving. The music that we play is a reflection of who we are as human beings. Our mission is to blur the differences between life and music, and to try to express the rawest form of our being. I keep learning that music can contain everything: the beauty of our being, but also our “ugly” side. For me, it’s about presenting a full picture of the musician, unfiltered. I don’t wish to develop a career of presenting only beautiful pre-meditated music to the audience on the way to success. The three of us are more interested in exploring the essence of our being, and to present that. Unedited, raw” says Maestro.
Shai’s most recent album, Human (ECM), was largely written and recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic and released in 2021. On this album, Maestro presents a quartet, bringing the music to a new level yet again. The quartet features Ofri Nehemya on drums, Peruvian bassist Jorge Roeder and US trumpeter Philip Dizack.
Read MoreMaestro was later accepted to the Thelma – Yellin High School of Performing Arts in Givataim, Israel where he completed his studies with honors. While taking extended literature classes, Shai was one of the few students combining a major both in the jazz and classical departments along with his regular studies.
At the age of 16, Maestro attended Berklee College of Music’s ‘5 week Summer Program’ in Boston where he auditioned for the full time (4 years) program, and received a full scholarship. Maestro never took this offer. That’s when he got a phone call from Avishai Cohen (Double Bass player and composer, known for his career both as a sideman for Chick Corea and for his current career as a successful bandleader) and was invited to join the band. Maestro joined Avishai Cohen’s Trio together with drummer Mark Guiliana where he played for 5 years all around the world.
In 2011, Maestro left Avishai’s group to pursue his own career as a band leader.
“It was the right time. I felt this bubbling energy inside that led me to continue my road and to take this difficult leap towards becoming a band leader”.
Shai Maestro Trio was formed in July 2010 in Brooklyn after playing at Maestro’s practice studio.
The trio went into the studio to record only a few months after it’s beggining. their first album simply called “Shai Maestro Trio” for the French label “Laborie Jazz”.
The album was received amazingly well. Intense tours started immediately after and the trio began playing around the world in festivals, concert halls and jazz club, receiving incredible responses from audiences, peers and the media everywhere they go. In 2012 they shared the stage with Chick Corea’s group, Tigran Hamasyan’s quintet, Esperanza Spalding group and Diana Krall’s band.
Three more albums followed ("The Road to Ithaca", "Untold Stories", "The Stone Skipper") and all were received very positively.
“The trio is constantly evolving. The music that we play is a reflection of who we are as human beings. Our mission is to blur the differences between life and music, and to try to express the rawest form of our being. I keep learning that music can contain everything: the beauty of our being, but also our “ugly” side. For me, it’s about presenting a full picture of the musician, unfiltered. I don’t wish to develop a career of presenting only beautiful pre-meditated music to the audience on the way to success. The three of us are more interested in exploring the essence of our being, and to present that. Unedited, raw” says Maestro.
Shai’s most recent album, Human (ECM), was largely written and recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic and released in 2021. On this album, Maestro presents a quartet, bringing the music to a new level yet again. The quartet features Ofri Nehemya on drums, Peruvian bassist Jorge Roeder and US trumpeter Philip Dizack.
Jazz Quartet
Jazz
Piano Jazz
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