Yonathan Avishai (born on March 29, 1977) is a pianist, composer, and educator based in France. Born and raised in Tel Aviv, Avishai started with piano lessons at a young age and discovered jazz during his teenage years. In 2002, he moved to France to study music therapy in Bordeaux. Besides being actively involved in the local scene, Avishai led several workshops in nearby music schools. He was also a member of Third World Love Quartet, with whom he released five albums and toured all over the globe. Soledad, recorded with percussionist Bachir Mouhali, was released in 2006 via the label Fresh Sound. In the following years he released a collaboration with playwright Sharon Mohar, Compagnie L’air du jeu (2008), and recorded Lost Boys (2010) with drummer Bertrand Noël. He formed the trio Modern Times with bassist Yoni Zelnik and drummer Donald Kontomanou in 2012. The band released two albums: Trio (2015) and The Parade (2016), both acclaimed by prestigious jazz publications. In 2017, he was chosen as the revelation of the year by Jazz Magazine. After recording two LPs with Avishai Cohen’s quartet, he released Joys and Solitudes, his debut album for German jazz label ECM, in 2019.
