Maestro, Shai - Human

In its review of pianist Shai Maestro's ECM debut album, The Dream Thief, All About Jazz spoke of "a searching lyrical mood, emotional eloquence, and communal virtuosity that serves the music." All of this also applies to Humani, where Maestro's extroverted and communicative ensemble with Israeli drummer Ofri Nemheya and Peruvian bassist Jorge Roeder forms a quartet inspired by American trumpeter Philip Dizack. Shain's wide-ranging pianism fits well with Dizack's alert and rapid improvisation. And as always, Maestro takes the music forward while respecting its traditions. Towards the end of the program, which consists almost entirely of Maestro originals and deals with different temperaments, the quartet offers its own interpretation of Duke Ellington's "In A Sentimental Mood," while Shain's "Hank and Charlie" pays tribute to the musical empathy shared by the late Hank Jones and Charlie Haden. Human was recorded at Studios la Buissonnesse in southern France in February 2020 and produced by Manfred Eicher.