Listening to this album, one gets the impression that it is full of "hits", characteristic themes that are remembered and haunted the listener long after listening, persistently resonating in the head, forcing you to hum (eg "Vertigo", "Paradox", " Gal"). They are purebred, noble compositions with a full range of emotions. There is nostalgia, lyricism, longing and even drama in them ("Untold", "Cinema G", "The Other Road"), excitement and hope ("Vertigo"), as well as joy, courage, sadness, despair, peace and coming to terms with reality. The composition entitled "Malka Moma" is the only one in which we hear the voice of the Bulgarian singer Nela Andreeva (she is also the author of this piece). Characterized by folklore and ethnic character, it is the essence of the atmosphere of the entire album, because it perfectly sums it up, what’s most important about it - an extraordinary emotional charge. It is clearly music that comes from the soul and the heart. Shai Maestro introduces inspiring motifs on the piano, and the Jorge Roeder / Ziv Ravitz rhythm section comes to his aid smoothly, building dynamic or lyrical conversations in a harmonious way. We do not have a fight for the palm of precedence for a moment - there are no dissonances in the form of going ahead. Occasionally, Roeder and Ravitz take over the lead for a while ("Water Dance", "Paradox", "Invisible Thread"), but neither of them tries to upset the balanced proportions. They put what they have the best to offer into the cauldron in which they cook musical food. Shai Maestro - unquestionable composing talent, thoughtful choice of means of expression, emotionality, great instrumental skills. Ziv Ravitz - mindfulness, exceptional listening, sense of groove ("Zvuv"), melody, timing. Jorge Roeder as a bassist can be daring (especially at concerts), but here he is above all an ideal partner for his colleagues - prudent, thrifty; it is like a bond between a Maestro piano and Ravitz's drums. They all share passion and commitment. There is an understanding between them, which results in a beautiful complementation. ~ Extract by Urszula Orczyk, JazzPress.pl. [Translated From Polish]
Laborie Records, LJ25, 2013
Recorded 2013 (#1,2,4-11) at
Studio Laborie, Limoges, France;
#3 on a Zoom Recorder Live in
Fribourg, Switzerland
Musicians:
Shai Maestro - Piano,
Arranger
Jorge Roeder - Double Bass,
Arranger (#1 only)
Ziv Ravitz - Drums
Guest:
Neli Andreeva - Vocals [Bulgarian]
(#10)
Tracks:
01. Gal {Shai Maestro} (9:09)
02. Cinema G {Ziv Ravitz}
(3:58)
03. Let Sound Be Sound {Shai
Maestro} (1:54)
04. Paradox {Shai Maestro}
(8:12)
05. Untold {Shai Maestro}
(5:31)
06. Invisible Thread {Shai
Maestro} (4:44)
07. Zvuv [The Fly] {Shai
Maestro} (8:49)
08. The Other Road [For Naomi
Gangi] {Shai Maestro} (4:00)
09. Vertigo {Shai Maestro}
(4:03)
10. Malka Moma {Neli
Andreeva; Arr. Georgi Genov} (3:38)
Time: 54:02
Bonus Track [Japanese
Release]
11. Water Dance [Bonus Japan]
{Shai Maestro} (8:14)
Total Time: 62:16
Credits:
Producer - Laborie Records
Executive Producer -
Jean-Michel Leygonie, Boris Jourdain
Recording & Mixing
Engineer - Rob Griffin
Assistant Engineer - Antonin
Chabillan, Clement Mettai
Mastering Engineer - Studio
Lakanal
Photography - Jean-Baptiste
Millot
Painting - Maggie Taylor
[Garden, 2005]
Design - Jean-Louis Duralek
