Solo: Miniatures & Tales

Shai Maestro (b. 1987) is one of the most inventive and influential pianists of his generation. Since debuting with his own trio in 2011, he has developed a distinctive musical voice - fluid, expressive, and profoundly lyrical. His artistry has established him as a defining force in contemporary jazz, blending improvisation, composition, and global influences into a sound that is both cinematic and deeply personal. Born in Israel, Maestro began playing classical piano at five and discovered jazz at eight through Keith Jarrett and Oscar Peterson. At nineteen, he joined bassist Avishai Cohen’s trio, co-writing the acclaimed Gently Disturbed and performing worldwide. In 2011, he formed his own trio, recording six albums and solidifying his reputation as a singular voice in modern jazz. With his recent releases on ECM Records, produced by Manfred Eicher, Maestro has joined the ranks of legendary pianists such as Keith Jarrett, Paul Bley, and Chick Corea. His quartet, featuring drummer Ofri Nehemya, bassist Jorge Roeder, and trumpeter Philip Dizack, continues to push the boundaries of modern jazz. Their latest album, Human (2021), recorded during the pandemic, showcases Maestro’s ability to create intimate, yet expansive musical landscapes. Now, in 2025, Shai Maestro embarks on a new journey - his first solo piano recording, marking the beginning of an ongoing series. This project explores the delicate balance between structure and spontaneity, reflecting his evolving relationship with composition and improvisation. Inspired by an early 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 written material. His solo work is divided into Miniatures - short, spontaneous improvisations - and Tales, extended explorations of melodic and harmonic ideas. This series is a testament to his artistic growth, capturing a singular moment in time while promising continued evolution with each future volume.