Melismetiq, the band

After their last successful tour, Melismetiq returns this year with the irresistible urge to let a

moment of music guide them through improvisation. Behind this enigmatic sinusoidal name,

stands some of the well-kept gems of the international jazz scene. But, in a rare act to remove the

names, they emphasize the collective spirit that drives this project. The swiss drummer Arthur

Hnatek (sideman for Tigran Hamasyan or Erik Trufaz), the icelandic trumpeter Ari Bragi Karason

(Eythor Gunnarsson or Joel Pálsson), the israeli pianist Shai Maestro (at the head of his trio after

playing with Avishai Cohen), the canadian bassist Rick Rosato (Jonathan Kreisberg or Ari Hoenig)

met on the fascinating scene of New York City. This concert will mark a rare occasion to see

these outstanding musicians together on the same stage. Not to be missed!

Melismetiq, the history

The band Melismetiq is a jazz quartet formed by Arthur Hnatek and Ari Bragi Karason during

their studies in New York City. Very quickly, the band performed in the city's clubs and engaged

in the vibrant contemporary music scene, with their repertory navigating between improvisation

and composition, while receiving outstanding attention. After that, the band performed during

their frst european tour in Chamonix (FR), at the Jazz Sur La Plage Festival (CH) or at the

Reykjavik Jazz Festival (IS) to name a few. Their shows were received with great enthusiasm

everywhere they went.

Shai Maestro being busy with his trio and Arthur with the band of Armenian pianist Tigran

Hamasyan, the band had to refuse several occasions to perform since. This year of 2015 will be

an exciting one for the band as they embark into the recording of their frst album, in the

prestigious hall of the Lugano's Radio Station (RSI) in Switzerland, home of many ECM records.

They were also ofered a residency in the Maison des Artistes in Chamonix, led by renowned jazz

personality André Manoukian.

Melismetiq, the bios

Arthur Hnatek, drums

Arthur Hnatek (pronounced Na-tek), drummer/composer/electronica artist, is a 25 years old swiss born,

award winner, multi-instrumentalist musician, probably performing near you soon. He holds a bachelor

degree from the New School for Jazz in New York City, where he studied with musicians among Kirk

Nurock, Timothy Andres, John Hollenbeck, Robert Sadin, Jim Black, Nate Wood and Mark Guiliana.

He has travelled all around the world performing in festivals among The Montreux Jazz Festival (CH), La

Cite de La Musique (Paris,FR), Festival de Vienne (FR), Festival Jazz de Marciac (FR), North Sea Jazz

Festival (NLD), Montreal Jazz Festival (CA), the London Jazz Festival (ENG), The Cotton Club of Tokyo

(JP), Yoshi's in Oakland (USA) or the Reykjavik Jazz Festival (IS).

Arthur has won twice, in 2006 and 2007, the swiss drum contest held in Altishofen, (CH), in front of 170

other participants. At age 16, he was granted a scholarship to study at the Drummer's Collective in New

York for a summer semester.

On the side of his work as a leader, with The Arthur Hnatek Trio or Melismetiq, Arthur is an active sideman

performing in a variety of styles. He has been seen performing with Tigran Hamasyan Trio or Quintet, Erik

Trufaz Quartet, Dan Tepfer Trio, Sophie Hunger, John Patitucci, Guillaume Perret, Franky Rousseau Big

Band, Nate Wood Band, Camila Meza, Vincent Ruiz and John Aram Quintet just to name a few.

Arthur also represented Switzerland at the Yamaha Groove All-Stars in 2008, among drummers such as

John JR Robinson or Wolfgang Hafner.

In 2009, Arthur received a number of scholarships. Among them, he was one of the 8 swiss artists to be

granted by the the Leenaards Foundation. Both the Gerber-Stiftung and the Lyra Foundation also

awarded Arthur, encouraging him in his move to New York.

At the moment, he is seen touring with Nonesuch and ECM recording artist: Tigran Hamasyan, as well as

produced some remixes for him (released on Universal). He is also busy collaborating on Erik Trufaz's

upcoming album.

As a composer, he has written for orchestra, string quartets, chamber ensemble, big bands and small

ensembles. Commissions have been received from the Puplinge Classique Festival (in 2013: Now for

septet and piano), the Jeunesse Musicale of Switzerland (in 2014, Noèse for jazz trio and orchestra) and

the Geneva Brass Festival (2015, for big band and brass quintet).

Arthur has worked as a flm composer on numerous occasions. Recently, he scored Pierre Amstutz

Roch's short movie To Be Delivered which has won the Best International Film award by the Los Angeles

Movie Awards.

As an electronica artist, he has produced remixes for Manu Delago (Bjork) and Tigran among others.

In September 2013, Arthur puts out the arc lite suite, his frst full length album featuring his compositions

for large ensemble.

In February 2015, Tigran unveiled his new album Mockroot, released on New York based label Nonesuch.

The record is quickly acclaimed worldwide for its exceptional nature.

Shai Maestro, piano

Pianist Shai Maestro was born in Israel on February 5th 1987. He began playing classical piano at the age

of 5 under the instruction of Ms. Irena Krivatz. His frst exposure to Jazz music was at the age of 8 while

listening to Oscar Peterson’s records and particularly “The Gershwin Songbook”.

Maestro was later accepted to the Thelma – Yellin High School of Performing Arts in Givataim, Israel

where he completed his studies with honors. While taking extended literature classes, Shai was one of the

few students combining a major both in the jazz and classical departments along with his regular studies.

At that time, Maestro continued his classical piano studies with Prof. Benjamin Oren of the Music

Academy in Jerusalem. In 2002 and 2003 Maestro won the National Jazz Ensembles Competition “Jazz

Signs” and in the years 2004-2010 he won scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Fund for jazz

piano.

At 16, Maestro attended Berklee College of Music’s ‘5 week Summer Program’ in Boston where he

auditioned for the full time (4 years) program, and received a full scholarship. Maestro never took this

ofer.

“I was very honored by this scholarship, but some inner voice told me that it was not the right thing for

me.. I began to feel the urge to either move to New York or to go to India and study Indian Classical

music, which I had already started doing in Israel with master Sanjey Kumar Sharma. I felt that it wasn’t

right for me to go to school at the time, I felt like I won’t fnd my place there.

That’s when he got a phone call from Avishai Cohen (Double Bass player and composer, known for his

career both as a sideman for Chick Corea and for his current career as a successful bandleader)

Maestro joined Avishai Cohen’s Trio together with drummer Mark Guiliana where he played for 5 years all

around the world.

Maestro played with Avishai from 2006 until 2011. Together they recorded four albums (“Gently Disturbed,

Aurora, Sensitive Hours and Seven Seas”) two of which are for Blue Note records. They toured the world

intensely, playing between 70-90 concerts a year at the world’s most well known venues and festivals

such as the Blue Note in NY, Ronnie Scott’s, The Olympia Hall, Salle Pleyel, the Bataclan Theater, Jazz á

Vienne, Marciac Jazz festival, Cork Jazz Festival, Yoshi’s, Madrid Jazz Festival, Vienna’s and Berlin

Concert houses to mention only a few.

At 2009 Maestro relocated to New York, where he currently resides.

Since his move to New York, Maestro keeps a busy schedule, playing as band leader and as a sideman.

Shai has shared the stage with many world known musicians such as Jorge Rossy, John Pattitucci, Keith

Carlock, Nate Smith, Kendrick Scott, Gilad Hekselman, Scott Colley, Jimmy Green, Myron Walden, Donny

McCaslin, Matt Penman, Clarence Penn, Ari Hoenig and many many more.

In 2011, Maestro left Avishai’s group to pursue his own career as a band leader.

“It was the right time. I felt this bubbling energy inside that led me to continue my road and to take this

difcult leap towards becoming a band leader”

Ari Bragi Karason, trumpet

Icelandic trumpeter and fugelhorn player, Ari Kárason has established himself as an exceptional

performer within the jazz scene in Iceland and New York.

Born in 1989, Ari Kárason began his music studies at the age of 7. Ari studied trumpet at Seltjarnarnes

Music School and later classical and jazz studies at F.Í.H. Music School. In 2012 he graduated with honor

from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York. Ari quickly became well established

in Iceland and in 2011 he was awarded as the most promising artists of the year in all categories at The

Icelandic Music Awards. Ari´s musicianship is noteworthy and has been characterized with his personal

sound and melodic improvisation where he has proved as a commanding soloist. His league is centered

in the jazz scene where he has established himself within the genres of jazz, big band, pop, rock,

electronic and hip-hop music.

Most recently Ari has been collaborating with pianist Eyþór Gunnarsson (Mezzoforte). They also share a

role in the newly formed band “Annes” that is a band formed by some of Iceland’s most heavyweight

improvisers. Ari has recorded and worked with artists such as Norah Jones, Jef Tain Watts, Bob Mintzer,

Ane Brun, Sam Yahel, Tigran Hamaysian, Grizzly Bear, Sigur Rós, Hjaltalín, the Reykjavik Big Band and

saxophone player Jóel Pálsson. In addition to a fourishing music career is Ari also an award-winning

Athlete. He is currently in the Icelandic national team for Track and Field for the 100m sprint.

Rick Rosato, upright bass

Montreal bassist Rick Rosato started playing venues in his hometown at age 18. In 2010, he graduated

from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, where he had studied under such masters as

Larry Grenadier and Ari Hoenig. In the autumn of 2010, he took over leadership of an artist series in the

Upstairs jazz club, playing with leading lights of the music scene. When not playing in the

Stranahan/Zaleski/Rosato Trio and the Ben Van Gelder Quintet, Rosato can be found alongside the likes

of Aaron Goldberg, Aaron Parks, Tigran Hamasyan, Dan Weiss, Gilad Hekselman, David Virelles and

Jonathan Kreisberg. He received the Galaxie Rising Star Award in 2014 for his piece New Untitled.

Melismetiq, upcoming notable dates :

• Maison des Artistes, Chamonix, France – August 14th 2015

• Jazz Sur La Plage, Hermance, Switzerland – August 15th 2015

• Im Pfegidach, Muri, Switzerland – August 16th 2015

Melismetiq, past notable dates :

• City Club, Pully, Switzerland – August 19th 2012

• Le Dérapage, Chamonix, France – August 16th 2012

• Reykjavik Jazz Festival, Iceland – August 22nd 2012

• Nublu 10th Anniversary, New York, USA – June 10th 2012

Melismetiq, contact

www.melismetiq.com

www.facebook.com/Melismetiq

Arthur Hnatek

arthur@arthurhnatek.com

+41 (0) 76 340 10 18

www.arthurhnatek.com

www.shaimaestro.com

www.arikarason.com