Maayan Smith 4tet at The Music Village

Jerusalem native, Maayan Smith started his musical studies at the age of 9 and was quickly recognized as a talent to look out for. He found guidance and a mentor in prof. Gersh Geller at the Jerusalem Conservatory mastering the classical style of saxophone and winning numerous scholarships, awrards and competitions. He continued his studies with prof. Geller thorough high school and has recieved his Bachelor of music degree from the Jerusalem Music Academy for classical perfomance in 2006. Since 1998 Maayan has been a member of the Jerusalem Saxophone Quartet, exploring his interest in chamber music and ensemble playing. With the JSQ and the larger, 8 piece Jerusalem Saxophone Ensemble, Maayan recorded two CD's in 2004 & 2005, released in the Mishkenot Sha'ananim Music Center label. These invaluable years of experience playing classical and chamber music were always shadowed by Maayan's deep love and curiosity for Jazz music in all of it's forms and variations....

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Jerusalem native, Maayan Smith started his musical studies at the age of 9 and was quickly recognized as a talent to look out for. He found guidance and a mentor in prof. Gersh Geller at the Jerusalem Conservatory mastering the classical style of saxophone and winning numerous scholarships, awrards and competitions. He continued his studies with prof. Geller thorough high school and has recieved his Bachelor of music degree from the Jerusalem Music Academy for classical perfomance in 2006. Since 1998 Maayan has been a member of the Jerusalem Saxophone Quartet, exploring his interest in chamber music and ensemble playing. With the JSQ and the larger, 8 piece Jerusalem Saxophone Ensemble, Maayan recorded two CD's in 2004 & 2005, released in the Mishkenot Sha'ananim Music Center label. These invaluable years of experience playing classical and chamber music were always shadowed by Maayan's deep love and curiosity for Jazz music in all of it's forms and variations.

In 2009 he followed through on this lifelong love of Jazz and improvised music. Building on his classical roots and technical command of the instrument he made the full transition and commitment to become a Jazz musician. Shortly after relocating to Belgium, he enrolled at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and completed a Master degree in jazz performance under the guidance of John Ruocco and Jeroen Van Herzeele.

Since arriving on the Belgian scene, Maayan has steadily gained recognition by his peers and audience. Sharing the stage with the likes of Michel Hatzigeorgiou (AKA Moon), Jean-Paul Estievenart, Chander Sardjoe (Octurn) and The Jazz Station Big Band.

In 2013 Maayan was named winner of the Toots Thielemans Jazz Award, awarded annually to the highest scoring Jazz student.

Working full steam ahead in this new and exciting idiom, he hopes to pave his own path and find more ways and places to express his love for music, improvinsing and making people move.

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