Playing Matti Caspi’s “Be Cheeky and Answer”

Yehezkel Raz, Maya Dunietz, Nitai Hershkovitz, Satyav Achai, Omri Mor, Katia Touboul, Roi Ben-Sira, Tomer Bar

Yehezkel Raz – piano | Maya Dunietz – piano | Nitai Hershkovitz – piano | Satyav Achai – piano | Omri Mor – piano | Katia Touboul – piano | Roi Ben-Sira – piano | Tomer Bar – piano

This year, Israel said a painful and deeply mournful farewell to one of the most respected and influential performers, composers, and arrangers in its history—Matti Caspi, of blessed memory. Caspi’s works have always been a tremendous source of inspiration for generations of musicians, and many credit his brilliant melodies with shaping what is now known as “the sound of Israeli jazz.” Beyond being a gifted songwriter and arranger, Caspi was first and foremost a pianist, whose warm and unique relationship with the 88 keys gave rise to some of the most sophisticated harmonies ever written in Hebrew.

From his earliest albums, Caspi never hesitated to challenge listeners with complex harmonic progressions, surprising time-signature changes, and a deep affinity for vibrant Latin and Brazilian rhythms. For jazz pianists, Caspi’s work is an infinite playground and extraordinarily fertile ground for improvisation. The musical structures he left behind invite the modern pianist to take familiar songs, break apart their rich chords, and soar with them “so far away.”

This year, the festival presents an exceptional, moving, and celebratory original production, bringing together eight of Israel’s finest pianists for an evening devoted entirely to Caspi’s melodies. Without words, through the virtuosity of piano sounds, the eight musicians will perform 12 pieces in original and moving arrangements—from intimate solo performances to powerful and spectacular duets created especially for this evening.

Performance length: 70 minutes