Up until 2011, Israeli pianist Shai Maestro played with bassist Avishai Cohen. His fellow countryman taught him the tricks of the trade. But the pianist is now coming to prominence with his own group: Shai Maestro Trio. The trio is completed by Peruvian bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Ziv Ravitz who used to play with Esperanza Spalding, among others, and their debut album was released in 2012. Maestro’s evocative playing is demonstrated to perfection on his latest album Untold Stories. The three men have played together intensively and have consequently grown closer musically over time. And this is expressed in the compositions and their playing. Maestro drew inspiration from the long-lasting conflict between Palestine and his homeland for the song When You Stop Seeing, while for Painting he was inspired by a friend’s painting that was similar to the work of Marc Chagall. The adventurous jazz of this trio will surprise many fans.
