SHAULI EINAV PLAYERS FEATURE IN DOWNBEAT

Published 5/5/11 DownBeat Magazine
by John Ephland

Shauli Einav
All About The Beauty

Checking out Shauli Einav's debut recording, Opus One (Plus Loin Music), one wonders
how this gifted saxophonist might fit into the current wave of talented, young Israel musicians on today's jazz scene. Think Avishai Cohen, Omer Avital and Anat Cohen for starters.

"I used to dance in an Israeli folk dance group," Einav recalls, thinking about growing
up in Israel. "My father was their accordionist and my older sister also danced there." As if to make a connection with Opus One, he adds, "I think that Israeli folk music has influenced my compositions."

To anyone taking a Blindfold Test on any of the nine pieces composed and arranged by the leader, Opus One would come across as a smartly played, swinging and evocative jazz album. Even with titles like "Hayu Leilot," "Shavuot" and "Jerusalem Theme," there's no obvious way to hear this music other than as something straight out of the Big Apple.

Some of that might be because Einav relocated to the States after he served in the Israeli army and earned his bachelor's degree from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. He then received a master's degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. From there it was on to New York City in 2008, where he has made a name for himself. Four reasons why the 29-year-old Einav garners attention in a crowded field are his mentors: Walt Weiskopf, Dave Liebman, Harold Danko and the late Arnie Lawrence. A saxophonist and top-flight educator, Lawrence moved to Israel in 1997 and founded the International Center for Creative Music in Jerusalem. As a common denominator among many of his peers, Einav says, "Arnie influenced almost every new Israeli jazz musician that has come to New York since the '90s."

Asked about the players who join him for Opus One, Einav is effusive about everyone on
board. "In each one of these musicians I see integrity, honesty and kindness," he says. "When the people are like that, in addition to being superb musicians, you cannot go wrong."

Speaking more specifically, Einav notes, "I've known Shai Maestro since we were very
young, and it has been amazing for me to see how well he's done in his career, taking the piano chair with the Avishai Cohen Trio for the last five years. Joseph Lepore, in addition to being one of the busiest bassists in town, was one of the most welcoming people that I've met. Johnathan Blake is one of my favorite drummers, and he's usually playing with other great Israeli musicians, such as Omer and Avishai. After a referral from a friend, I met [trombonist] Andy Hunter a few weeks before the recording. I was not disappointed, to say the least."

The music on Opus One reflects the same friendly vibe that Einav describes when speaking of his bandmates. From the bop-oriented "Kavana" to more straight ahead swing with "The DameIin" to ballads like "New Era Ballad" and "Naama," the cohesion of the tight rhythm section coupled with the Einav/Hunter front line sets the stage for some very intriguing solos, especially from the leader, whose maturity and style indicate a great amount of heart and soul. That spirit is also reflected in the arrangements and compositions, which combine sophistication with memorable melodies.

When Einav refers to "delivering a message to the world," he's mainly talking about the lessons he learned from Lawrence. "Opus One, for me:' Einav explains, "is like a book of short stories. Each tune has its own story but at the same time they connect to each other. I tried taking the listener on a trip into my own life. I called it Opus One because it is a compilation of works collected through my last two years since coming to New York City."

Even if one weren't aware of Einav's background, the quality of his playing and writing
make him a noteworthy young talent, regardless of how his music might get classified.
"Categorizing is really hard and sometimes contradicts the music," Einav notes. "So I'd just say that it's all music. And like my mentor Arnie Lawrence liked to say, 'It's all about the beauty.' At the same time, I understand that by knowing the backstory, one can really connect more to the artist, which means a great deal to me."

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Opus One, the Plus Loin Music debut of Israeli Saxophonist-Composer Shauli Einav

CD Release Celebrations Announced for Boston and New York
International Tour To Follow

Today's international release of Opus One marks the emergence of a promising new talent on the jazz scene, saxophonist-composer-arranger and bandleader Shauli Einav. On his startling debut, from the French Plus Loin Music label, the gifted young musician is accompanied by a stellar crew that includes pianist Shai Maestro, trombonist Andy Hunter, bassist Joseph Lepore and drummer Johnathan Blake. Together they interpret this richly rewarding music with rare chemistry and a collective sense of purpose that elevates the proceedings to some lofty peaks. “I was really trying to make something meaningful and full of essence,” says Einav. “And while some of the tunes remind me of my homeland, I don’t see this as an Israeli album, it’s just music per se.”

February 4th begins the celebration with a stellar sextet on the bandstand with Einav at The Beehive in Boston. The group that evening will feature the phenomenal trumpeter Avishai Cohen.

February 12th, at the Miles' Cafe in NYC will be the official CD Release Party featuring an incredible sextet which includes: Philip Dizack (trumpet), Nick Finzer (Trombone), Jeremy Siskind (Piano), Joseph Lepore (Drums), Aviv Cohen (Drums).

The gifted young saxist will follow these U.S. gigs with an overseas tour including stops in Tel Aviv, Paris, and Köln before returning to NYC in March. At the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival Einav appears on a special show featuring the internationally acclaimed pianist Tigran Hamasyan. In Cologne and Paris, Einav will have the pleasure of hosting one of the best Israeli pianists - Omer Klein.

Shauli Einav began his career as a professional musician at a very young age. He traveled the world from age 7 as a musician and dancer, playing violin and recorders with Hora Jerusalem, the official multi-cultural folk-dance group of Jerusalem. His father played accordion in the group and his brother and sister were also members of the ensemble. Being exposed to such variety of musical traditions in the group influenced him greatly and can be heard in his compositions.

Einav also served in the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip during the Intifada and the loss of a dear friend of his, David Damelin, is paid tribute in a tune off of Opus One, "The Damelin".

Playing the saxophone since age 13, he went on to study as a protégé of the late Arnie Lawrence, a Brooklyn-born saxophonist and educator who moved to Israel in 1997 and founded the International Center for Creative Music in Jerusalem. Einav was exposed to the concept of music operating on a deeper level than just notes on a page from the time he was a teenager. “Arnie influenced almost every new Israeli jazz musician that has come to New York since the ‘90s. And his main thing was that when you play, you have to play the truth and you have to play so it swings. It’s not about just having fun, it’s about delivering a message to the world, whether it will be the most beautiful ballad or the most uptempo, swinging thing ever. Whatever you play, it has to have meaning and a strong sense of urgency behind it."

While the music on Opus One is marked by sophisticated compositions full of intricate time-shifting and rich harmonies, the tunes are ultimately catchy. As Einav explains, composition was important at Eastman where he received his master's degree. "I did a lot of playing in the big band there conducted by Bill Dobbins, so I learned a lot about harmony and voicings there and I bring that quality to my own writing. But I hope that the compositions are also catchy and memorable. My sax teacher, Walt Weiskoff, always said that a good jazz composition also has to be memorable. That’s why we all remember ‘Mr. P.C.’ and ‘Ornithology’ or a Pat Metheny tune or all the tunes by Horace Silver and Bobby Timmons. So I tried on this album to have sophisticated compositions but also to make them as melodic and memorable as I could.”

Opus One Reviews:

"a treat for young and old ears looking for a new turn on. Solid stuff throughout."
- Midwest Record

"Einav's sound comes across as fresh and innovative - and after hearing this wonderful CD the listener may very well be driven immediately to the replay button."
- Financial Times, Germany

"...One of Israel's elite musicians..."
- Yossi Harsonsky (Ma'ariv)

"Shauli Einav recently issued a nice new straight-ahead record called Opus One"
A Blog Supreme / NPR Jazz

SHAULI EINAV ITINERARY:

• 2/4 - Beehive, Boston - 10pm
  
• 2/12 - Miles' Cafe, NYC (CD Release Party) - 9:30pm
  
• 2/16 - Tel Aviv Jazz Festival, 8:00pm
  
• 2/18 - Duc de Lombards, Paris - 8pm & 10pm
  
• 2/19 - Duc de Lombards, Paris - 8pm & 10pm
  
• 2/22 - Loft, Köln - 8:30pm
  
• 3/10 - Caffe Vivaldi, NYC - 8:15pm
  
• 8/4 - Miles' Cafe, NYC - 7:30pm

SHAULI EINAV

OPUS ONE

Plus Loin Music

International release date:

January 11, 2011

also available on iTunes

www.shaulimusic.com

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Shauli Einav's Opus One at iTunes

Israeli Saxophonist-Composer Shauli Einav Makes
Impressive Debut with Opus One on Plus Loin Music
Stateside release on French label due out on January 11, 2011
and currently available at iTunes

Catch Shauli Einav Quartet at Small’s Dec 3

Opus One marks the emergence of a promising new talent on the jazz scene, saxophonist-composer-arranger and bandleader Shauli Einav. On his startling debut, to be released on the French Plus Loin Music label on January 11th, the gifted young musician is accompanied by a stellar crew that includes pianist Shai Maestro, trombonist Andy Hunter, bassist Joseph Lepore and drummer Johnathan Blake. Together they interpret this richly rewarding music with rare chemistry and a collective sense of purpose that elevates the proceedings to some lofty peaks. “I was really trying to make something meaningful and full of essence,” says Einav. “And while some of the tunes remind me of my homeland, I don’t see this as an Israeli album, it’s just music per se.”

The CD is currently available on iTunes and the saxophonist and his quartet will be performing music from the release at Small's in NYC on Dec 3rd at 7:30pm.

Born in Israel on July 1, 1982, Einav started studying violin at age four and remained with that instrument for six or seven years before switching to drums and recorders for two years. At age 13, he switched to alto saxophone and played it for seven years until switching to tenor sax at age 20. After receiving his bachelors degree from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and a masters degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, Einav moved to New York City in the summer of 2008 and began making a dent on the jazz scene. Through fellow Israeli musicians who had already had a strong foothold in the Big Apple, like bassists Omer Avital and Avishai Cohen, and by performing and hanging at jazz clubs like Small’s and Fat Cat, Shauli made invaluable connections that led to innumerable gigs. “This is actually the second recording that I have made,” he explains. “My first was a self-produced CD that was distributed mostly in Israel and a little bit in upstate New York in the area around Eastman. It served as a kind of calling card and got me to a few places, like the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival and Red Sea Jazz Festival in 2008. But it wasn’t big-time at all. I call this second recording Opus One because I do believe that it’s my first major work. And I think it reflects the progress that I’ve made since finishing school and finding my way in such a competitive and hard place such as New York City.”

While the music on Opus One is marked by sophisticated compositions full of intricate time-shifting and rich harmonies, the tunes are ultimately catchy. As Einav explains, “Composition was a big deal at Eastman. I did a lot of playing in the big band there conducted by Bill Dobbins, so I learned a lot about harmony and voicings there and I bring that quality to my own writing. But I hope that the compositions are also catchy and memorable. My sax teacher, Walt Weiskoff, always said that a good jazz composition also has to be memorable. That’s why we all remember ‘Mr. P.C.’ and ‘Ornithology’ or a Pat Metheny tune or all the tunes by Horace Silver and Bobby Timmons. So I tried on this album to have sophisticated compositions but also to make them as melodic and memorable as I could.”

Catch Shauli Einav on the road in early 2011 and around NYC in the coming months.

SHAULI EINAV QUARTET

12/03 – SMALL’S – 7:30pm - $20
183 W. 10th St. NY, NY

-- 2011 --

2/12 – cd release party – MILES CAFÉ – 9:30pm - $10
212 E. 52nd Street, NY, NY

2/16 – TEL AVIV JAZZ FESTIVAL

2/18, 19 – Le DUC des LOMBARDS, PARIS, FRANCE


SHAULI EINAV – OPUS ONE – Plus Loin Music
International release date: January 11, 2011
Now available on iTunes


www.shaulimusic.com


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