Whether performing in a packed European festival with his trio, or playing a late-night solo piano concert in a Tel-Aviv jazz club, pianist Ari Erev's music always tells a story.

Music

The music of pianist and composer Ari Erev blends a deep classical touch, producing an intimate, delicate and emotional style inspired by pianists such as Bill Evans, Kenny Barron and Fred Hersch, with an energetic, latin-oriented and rhythmic drive, such as those found with pianists Michel Camilo and Michell Petrucciani, to produce a mature voice of his own.
His live concerts are known to build a strong connection with the audience.

Albums

In "Close to Home" (2021), pianist and composer Ari Erev melds highly-melodic Jazz, wrapped in rich harmony textures and Latin-inspired rhythms with soulful sound and sensitive playing. At its core, the ensemble is a piano trio, but Erev takes full advantage of the additional colours at his disposal, with the addition of New York-based flutist Hadar Noiberg, acclaimed percussionist Gilad Dobrecky & hotly tipped saxophonist Yuval Cohen. The music is strongly rooted in jazz but showcases Erev's long-time passion for world music and, in particular, Latin influences.

"Wonderful and beautiful album, exquisite deft touch..." Dave Sockett,   Bebop Spoken Here
"Remarkable tonality and improvisational skills... Superbly presented... Greatly enhances the profile of Israeli jazz on the world scene." Jim Burlong,   Jazz Views

The recording of "Flow" (2016), established pianist Ari Erev as one of Israel's most melodic and sensitive modern jazz pianists and composers. Featured mostly on his own originals in this project, Ari led a program that includes a top-notch rhythm section and guest soprano saxophonist Yuval Cohen, and creates a personal and artistically-performed album, continuing his exploration of combining percussive Latin rhythms with the rich harmonies of post-bop Jazz.

"a powerful... excellent new material,... a remarkable performance from a gifted artist whose expressive playing style and clever compositions, elevate him as one of the finest pianists on the international jazz scene today." Edward Blanco,   All About Jazz

"A Handful of Changes" (2012), introduced Latin-flavored jazz compositions and inspired playing and featured the brilliant, New York tenor-saxophonist, Joel Frahm. The album, which is based mainly on his own originals, plus two songs by Israeli composer Alexander Argov and a pair of jazz standards, was very warmly received by critics all over the world.

"...an impressive project indeed... a presentation of individual, inner beauty..."
Alexander Ariff, Hard Bop Jazz Journal

In 2008 he made his debut recording, a trio set entitled "About Time", playing a lyrical and emotional mix of original compositions, Jazz standards, and Jazz arrangement of Israeli songs.

"Piano playing with a lot of elegance and sensitivity... it is evident it is performed with great love and with a thorough acquaintance and respect for the history of Jazz..." Barak Weiss, artistic director, Tel-Aviv Jazz Festival).  

Current Projects

• "Open Possibilities", Based on a selection of the original music released in his albums "Close to Home", "Flow" and "A Handful of Changes", with some additional original compositions as well as selected Jazz standards. Performed in a Deut/Trio/ settings with some of the best Israeli Jazz musicians, or with Erev's "European Trio".
  
  This project was featured in a sold-out performance in the Tel-Aviv International Jazz Festival, hosting sought-after trumpeter Freddie Hendrix (USA), and was highly praised in Israeli press.
  
  It was also performed very successfully in several European Jazz festivals and well-established jazz venues in Trio, Quartet and Piano-Solo settings.
  
  
• "Havana Nights", a program inspired by the great composers of central and south America, integrating the romantic elements of Cuban and Mexican Boleros, and the Latin tempos of south America with modern Jazz interpretation and open improvisation. (read more...)
  
  
• A lyrical and emotional piano-solo performance, which consists of carefully selected Jazz standards, latin tunes and original compositions, which are Ari's currently most favorable ones.
  and...
  
  
• "Jazz From The Heart" - a Jazz trio tribute performance with the music of Bill Evans. (read more...)

An Actively Performing Artist

As a performing musician, Ari plays and performs regularly in Israel's top jazz clubs, including "Levontin 7", "Shablul Jazz" and "Beit Haamudim" in Tel-Aviv, as well as in Jazz tours in important jazz clubs in Europe. He has also performed in festivals and jazz series in Israel and Europe, including the presitgious "International Jazz Piano Festival" in Czech Republic, and Tel-Aviv Jazz Festival, and on Israeli radio and TV. He composed music for the documentary "Bokito", has played in theater plays, and has served as the musical director for a number of vocalists' jazz productions. He also teaches piano jazz improvisation.

Throughout his performance career, Ari cooperated with musicians such as saxophonists Joel Frahm (USA), Rosta Fras (CZ), and Jamie O'Donnel (UK), trumpeters Freddie Hendrix (USA), Felice Reggio (Italy) and Hendrik Jorgenson (DK), bassists Eli Magen, Tibor Csuhaj-Barna (Hungary), Tibor Elekes (Switzerland) and Petr Dvorsky (Cz), drummers Gasper Bertoncelj (Slovania/ISR) and Jiri Slavicek (CZ), and guitarist Marcelo Nami (BR/ISR) and vocalist Agnes Lakatos (Hungary).

Among the Israeli artists with whom he has worked have been pop/rock singer Gali Atari, saxophonists Robert Anchipolovsky, Erez Barnoy, Kobi Salomon and Ofer Shapiro, bassists Yorai Oron, Arie Volinez, Udi Kazmirski and Tal Ronen, drummers Gideon Pasahov, Shai Zelman and Shahar Haziza, world-renowned percussionist Gilad Dobrecky, guitarists Dan Adler and Inbar Fridman, and vocalists Tami Gerassi (Kelly), Julia Feldman and Ayelet-Rose Gottlieb.

Other Bio Details

Born and raised in Israel, pianist Ari Erev started his musical eduaction studying classical piano. At 17, he turned to jazz as his main route in music. "My early influence was my father, an amateur pianist, who played jazz at home. I was always fascinated by the harmonies in jazz and that is what drew me to that music."

Ari studied jazz and improvisation with the highly respected jazz educator Dr. Zvi Keren, pianists Nahum Perperkovich and Arik Strauss, and arranger-composer Ilan Mociach at the Rubin Academy of Music in Tel-Aviv.

Constantly looking for new opportunities to share his music, by performing and cooperating with other musicians, in and outside of Israel.