Shai Maestro

Shai Maestro is an Israeli jazz pianist known for the lyrical, storytelling quality of his playing and for the acclaimed trio he leads with bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Ofri Nehemya. Born in 1987 and raised in Israel, he began studying classical piano at age five and discovered jazz through Oscar Peterson before training at the Thelma Yellin High School of Performing Arts. He first drew wide attention as a member of bassist Avishai Cohen's trio, recording several albums with the group in the late 2000s before launching his own trio in 2010. In 2018 he signed with the ECM label and released The Dream Thief, and he went on to explore trio, solo, and larger ensemble settings, including the 2025 solo album Solo Miniatures and Tales. His playing draws on his classical background and Israeli roots alongside the jazz tradition.