Shay Zelman Quartet | Tribute to Cedar Walton
The Shay Zelman Quartet will be hosted for the first time at the Jerusalem Jazz Festival, with a tribute to the American pianist and composer, Cedar Walton. Zelman, one of the most influential figures on the Israeli jazz scene, pays homage to the legendary creator and performer who passed away in 2013. The sophisticated ensemble of musicians – Dor Samokha, Nitsan Kolko and Jonathan Cohen, will play new adaptations of Walton’s masterpieces, which have entered the pantheon of jazz, such as Fantasy in D, the composer’s most popular work, performed for the first time by Art Blakey’s The Jazz Messengers, an early incarnation of the famous collective in which Walton played with Wayne Shorter and Freddie Hubbard.
Wit, daring and elegance later became the hallmark of the exemplary trio, which Walton formed with bassist Sam Jones and Billy Higgins on the drums. The trio, an ensemble of luminaries, is still considered a landmark and a model for generations of jazz musicians who came after them. Walton has performed and recorded with the greatest of the greats – John Coltrane, Art Farmer, Clifford Jordan, Charlie Parker, Slide Hampton, Bobby Hutcherson, only some of a long and illustrious list.
Shay Zelman, a mesmerizing drummer and percussionist with endless energy, musicality and infectious passion, is considered one of the most sought-after session musicians in Israel and regularly accompanies international artists on tours abroad. His contribution to the development of the contemporary jazz scene in Israel is enormous. For years, he has been initiating, producing and managing projects aimed at revealing the art of jazz to Israeli audiences and promoting collaborations between Israeli musicians and global leading jazz artists.
The tribute performance to Cedar Walton, in this context, is an extraordinary opportunity to enter the world of an influential and inspiring creator. A rhythmic and energetic show, going back to hard bop and lending canonical standards new character.