Yonathan Avishai / Trio
The second evening of Yonatan Avishai's residency at Shablul presents a classic piano trio ensemble with Noam Hittin on double bass and Ido Mandel on drums. The performance is dedicated to the Great American Songbook, conducted in a live dialogue with the bass and drums, and incorporates swing and blues. The music is rewritten every moment, expressing rare lyricism, deep sensitivity, and musical freedom.
The second evening of Yonatan Avishai's residency at Shablul presents a classic piano trio ensemble with Noam Hittin on double bass and Ido Mandel on drums. The performance is dedicated to the Great American Songbook, conducted in a live dialogue with the bass and drums, and incorporates swing and blues. The music is rewritten every moment, expressing rare lyricism, deep sensitivity, and musical freedom.
Further Details:
The second evening in Yonathan Avishai's residency at Shablul presents a classical piano trio where he is joined by two of the intriguing young voices of the new generation of musicians: Noam Hittin on contrabass and Ido Mendel on drums. The performance is dedicated to the Great American Songbook - the endless treasure of songs from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, which became the cornerstone of jazz. In a live dialogue with the bass and drums, Avishai dives into the familiar melodies, refines them, and gives them new life, combining swing and blues, expressing rare lyricism, deep sensitivity, and musical freedom. The music feels as though it is being rewritten at every moment.
Yonathan Avishai - Piano
Noam Hittin - Contrabass
Ido Mendel - Drums
Yonathan Avishai is undoubtedly one of the most original and unique pianists and creators in contemporary Israeli and European jazz. His qualities as a virtuoso pianist gained worldwide recognition at the beginning of the 2000s as a member of the ensemble Third World Love - a phenomenon bordering on cult status in the global jazz field, alongside trumpeter Avishai Cohen, bassist Omer Avital, and drummer Daniel Friedman. Avishai built an international reputation thanks to his intimate, lyrical, and profound playing style, incorporating influences from traditional jazz, classical music, folklore, and Mediterranean music. Critics frequently praise his ability to make silence, space, and melody an integral part of his improvisation - an approach reminiscent of great pianists, particularly Ahmad Jamal.
Over the years, he collaborated with leading artists, especially with trumpeter Avishai Cohen, with whom he recorded and performed worldwide. His albums as a leader released by the prestigious ECM label received critical acclaim for their originality, musical depth, and unique sound. In 2019, he was even chosen as "Musician of the Year" by Jazz Magazine, an achievement that emphasized his status as one of the prominent pianists of his generation.
From the reviews:
"Enchanting and moving, the music of Yonathan is carried by a continuous breath... it's impossible not to marvel." - Jazz Magazine
"In both his playing and writing, Yonathan Avishai gives the impression that he is in a constant search for deep intimacy... always to touch the essence." - France Musique
"Yonathan Avishai is an original and unique voice in the international jazz scene and one of the most successful Israeli musicians in the world." - Yotam Ziv, Haaretz
