Guy Mintus: Crafting Harmonic Stories on "Connecting the Dots"

An Odyssey of Jazz and Cultural Fusion

New York-based, Israeli jazz pianist-composer Guy Mintus is set to unveil his latest musical tapestry, "Connecting the Dots," on February 15, 2019, courtesy of France's esteemed Jazz Family label. Mintus, a well-versed, globe-trotting virtuoso, stands as a beacon of musical prowess, adorned with numerous accolades.

A Journey of Recognition

Guy Mintus' musical voyage is adorned with recognition and acclaim. His mantle proudly bears the Prix du Public from the Montreux Jazz Festival's solo piano competition, two prestigious ASCAP Foundation/Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards, and, in 2018, the ASCAP Foundation Leonard Bernstein Award. The Mintus Trio's inaugural album, "A Home In Between," earned the coveted title of DownBeat's "editor's pick." Brian Zimmerman of DownBeat hailed Mintus as "an artist of prodigious talent and boundless ambition." All About Jazz lauded "A Home in Between" as an "outstanding piano trio disc" that heralded the arrival of a significant talent and a superb ensemble. New York Music Daily, in effusive praise, declared it the "best trio album of 2017 by a mile."

A Musical Odyssey Across Continents

Over the past six years, Guy Mintus has called New York his home while taking his music on a captivating journey across diverse landscapes, from India to Turkey, Brazil to Canada, and many European cities in between. His musical odyssey has seen him collaborate with luminaries such as Jon Hendricks, Trilok Gurtu, the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, and the ska-punk ensemble Streetlight Manifesto.

"Connecting the Dots": A Harmonious Collage

The ambitious opus that is "Connecting the Dots" weaves a captivating narrative through a tapestry of diverse musical worlds, encapsulating Mintus's rich ethnic and musical heritage, as well as his experiences and interests. It seamlessly traverses a musical spectrum, from the hard bop echoes of Horace Silver's "Yeah!" to the ornate intricacies of Mintus's original composition, "Little Italy," and the carefree groove of yet another Mintus original, "Nothing New Under the Sun."

However, what truly stands out are the performances that evoke the exoticism and spirituality of Mintus's native Middle East. Mintus breathes life into the 13th Century Persian poet Rumi's poem, "Hunt Music," with an inspired musical arrangement, complemented by the enchanting voice of Israeli vocalist Sivan Arbel, who sings an English translation of Rumi's words. An arrangement of the traditional Jewish High Holy Day prayer, "Avinu Malkeinu," features the haunting saxophone solos of jazz luminary Dave Liebman. To honor his own Mizrahi Jewish heritage, Mintus not only performs but also lends his voice to a Hebrew language hit associated with the late Israeli Yemenite singer, Zohar Argov.

The Trio Behind the Magic

In the heart of this musical journey are the members of the Mintus Trio: bassist Dan Pappalardo and drummer Philippe Lemm. Together, they embark on a sonic odyssey, blending genres and traditions to create a harmonious collage of cultural and musical exploration. "Connecting the Dots" promises to be a musical revelation, where the threads of jazz, culture, and tradition come together in a captivating fusion of sound.

Guy Mintus

Aside from his work with the Trio, Mintus has been busy with an array of other projects. He recently performed Gershwin's" Rhapsody in Blue" with the Bayerische Philharmonic and premiered his own full-length work, a piano concerto inspired by the journey of the Jews of Arab origins immigrating to Israel in its early days, for the Israeli Chamber Orchestra. He has been commissioned to compose works by the American Composers Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and the Jerusalem East & West Orchestra, In addition, he has contributed original music and piano interpretations to Fiddler, a forthcoming documentary about Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Emmy-nominee Max Lewkovicz. In the spring of 2019, Mintus will make his theater debut, starring as an aspiring young pianist in a new musical at Tel Aviv's Carmeri Theater.