Alon Yavnai (Hebrew: אלון יבנאי; born 1969) is an Israel-born jazz pianist.
Biography
editBorn in Israel, Yavnai began playing piano at the age of four. He has accompanied singers since the age of thirteen. He graduated from the Thelma Yellin High School for Arts, Givatayim Conservatory, both in Israel, and studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He won first place in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. He taught at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp.
Yavnai leads a trio and has worked in a duo with Paquito D'Rivera and in a trio with Mark Summer. He has also worked with Leny Andrade, Regina Carter, Jim Chapin, Ravi Coltrane, George Garzone, Louis Hayes, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Lovano, Romero Lubambo, Bob Moses New York Voices, Rosa Passos, Rufus Reid, Claudio Roditi, and Nancy Wilson.
In 2008, Yavnai won a Grammy Award as a part of the Paquito D'Rivera Quintet for Best Latin Jazz Album (Funk Tango). Yavnai wrote the title track.[1] In May 2008, Yavnai released his album Travel Notes which features solo pieces as well as trio pieces (with Omer Avital on bass and Jamey Haddad on percussion).[2]
Discography
editAs leader/co-leader
edit| Year recorded | Year released | Title | Label | Personnel/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001? | 2001 | D.S. Al Coda | Whaling City Sound | Most tracks sextet, with George Garzone (tenor sax, soprano sax), Dino Govoni (tenor sax, flute), Avishai Cohen (trumpet, flugelhorn), Massimo Biolcati (bass), Take Toriyama (drums); some tracks with Michal Cohen (vocals), Baoz Nemet (darbouka) added[3] |
| 2004? | 2005 | Picture This | Bon Rapport | Most tracks trio, with Massimo Biolcati (bass), Take Toriyama (drums); some tracks quartet, with Paquito D'Rivera (reeds) added[4] |
| 2007 | 2008 | Travel Notes | ObliqSound | Some tracks solo piano; some tracks trio, with Omer Avital (bass), Jamey Haddad (percussion)[5] |
| 2012 | Shir Ahava | Alon Yavnai | With the NDR Big Band[6] | |
| 2016 | Reconnect | Gateway Music | Duo, co-led with Jesper Riis (trumpet)[7] |
As sideman
edit- Caribbean Jazz Project, Mosaic (Concord Picante, 2006)
- Paquito D'Rivera, Jazz Chamber Trio (Chesky, 2005)
- Paquito D'Rivera, Funk Tango (Sunnyside/Paquito, 2007)
- Nancy Wilson, Turned to Blue (MCG Jazz, 2006)
References
edit- ^ "News of Paquito D'Rivera". Archived from the original on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
- ^ "Travel Notes". Retrieved 2008-07-29.
- ^ Nathan, Dave (August 1, 2001). "Alon Yavnai: D. S. al Coda". All About Jazz. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ Latessa, Stephen (April 3, 2005). "Alon Yavnai Trio: Picture This". All About Jazz. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ Nastos, Michael G. "Travel Notes: Alon Yavnai". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ Bowers, Jack (June 6, 2012). "Darmstadter Big Band / Alon Yavnai–NDR Big Band / Red Bank Jazz Orchestra". All About Jazz. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ Baekgaard, Jakob (February 26, 2016). "Alon Yavnai - Jesper Riis: Reconnect". All About Jazz. Retrieved November 13, 2022.