Maya Belsitzman & Uriel Herman / Pauses in Shades
Release Date: 27th September 2024
CD & Digital Formats / UBU0184
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of cellist Maya Belsitzman and pianist Uriel Herman, for the release of their duet album, Pauses in Shades, from 27th September on the Ubuntu Music record label.
Pauses in Shades is an intimate recording where the pieces are grounded in listening, improvisation, and emotion. In the studio, Maya and Uriel attempted to pour life into images, which allow the listener to take pause, join and observe moments created in the studio and reflect these to the outside world.
Cellist and singer Maya Belsitzman and composer/pianist Uriel Herman have known each other for over 20 years in the world of classical music since they were children, yet they had never created together.
Uriel Herman, Maya Belsitzman (Photographer: Barak Rivkind)
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two decided it was the perfect opportunity to collaborate. They entered the studio without prior rehearsals, sheet music, or plans. In the studio, magic happened thanks to the strong connection between them and the deep spirit they brought with them. Within a few hours, new pieces emerged through improvisation, reflecting the depths of their hearts with such themes as parenthood, loneliness, the struggle of lockdown, the journey and home.
This is how the album was born, consisting of 10 impromptu pieces – short musical compositions attempting to capture the raw magic that transpired in that studio and to bring a bit of light and goodness during these challenging times in Israel and the region.
Following Uriel's successful collaboration with the British record label Ubuntu Music in 2023 with the album, Different Eyes, another collaboration has now emerged - a duet featuring Uriel and Maya. Uriel comments: "We are very excited about this collaboration, and we believe that Ubuntu will help us spread the light and goodness that exists in this album in the best possible way."
Uriel Herman, Maya Belsitzman (Video Image)
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “This is such a special project with Maya and Uriel, who are nearly lifelong friends yet had never collaborated musically, until now. The duo was inspired by a number of key themes in life, such as parenthood, loneliness and home. In this ever-challenging world of uncertainty, political upheaval and the increasing escalation of potential war, it is comforting to the heart and to the soul to have music that helps to heal and inspires to give us hope that the world will ultimately be a better place. We are so happy to be a part of this and are excited to have Uriel back for his second release, while Maya has her debut with Ubuntu Music. We welcome them with open arms to our Family.”
For further information, please contact:
Uriel Herman (Artist): info@urielherman.com
Matt Fripp/Jazzfuel (International PR): matt@jazzfuel.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
BIOGRAPHIES
Maya Belsitzman
Maya is a classical educated cellist, playing, producing, composing and arranging. She is a virtuosic, soulful cellist and vocalist, playing with effects. She's been performing in festivals around the world such as Paris Jazz Festival, Buenos Aires Jazz Festival, Cervantino Festival, Red Sea Jazz Festival, Nairobi Jazz Festival, Pohoda Festival, Krakow Jewish Festival and many more.
Maya has played, recorded and collaborated with world class artists such as Keren Ann, Avishai Cohen (Trumpet), Chava Alberstein, Ehud Banai, Noa (Achinoam Nini), Inbal Pinto, Yasmin Levy, Barbara Streisand and more. She often performs with her life partner, the drummer and percussionist Matan Ephrat. Maya has composed original scores for theatre, modern dance, short films and documentary movies.
Uriel Herman
Internationally recognised for his remarkable blend of classical piano and Middle Eastern rhythm, Uriel has captured audiences worldwide. His last album, Different Eyes (2023), was selected by the UK's Guardian National Newspaper as one of the 10 best jazz albums of 2023. Over the past decade, Uriel has presented his music to audiences at prestigious festivals and venues around the globe. Notable performances include The Forbidden City Concert Hall (Beijing, CN), CCB (Lisbon, PT), Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club (London, UK), Centro Cultural Kirchner (Buenos Aires, AR), Stanford University (CA, US), Jarasum Jazz Festival (Jarasum, KR), Taichung Jazz Festival (Taichung, TW), Festival Jazz Sous Les Pommiers (Coutances, FR), Festival Eclats d’Email Jazz (Limoges, FR), Nuit de Sud Festival (Venve, FR), Jazz a Cauderan Festival (Bordeaux), Jazz Aux Carrés Festival (Annecy, FR), Limoges Opera House (Limoges, FR), Duc des Lombards (Paris, FR), Bimhuis (Amsterdam, NL) and many others. His commissioned orchestral works include a rhapsody for Jazz Quartet & Orchestra titled White Night and three dialogues for Orchestra and Jazz Quartet that Uriel was commissioned to compose for the Jenaer Philharmonic.