Eyal Netzer - Shine (2023)

"SHINE" is an innovative jazz duet album that combines the raw energy of free jazz with the tradition of soulful, intimate jazz duets. The album features saxophonist Eyal Netzer and pianist Milton Michaeli, experienced musicians with a deep understanding and appreciation for both genres.
The album opens with "Mamelodi”, a 3-part suite which is named after the South African township, which written by Netzer following his strong personal and musical experiences while visiting the neighborhood.
The first part is the fiery "Go!," which showcases the duo's energetic side, as they push each other to new heights with a simple, ecstatic theme. The following tracks "Shine" and “Mamelodi” showcases the influence of South African jazz, with its harmonic flavors and driving rhythms, highlighting the piano, saxophone and zurna (an Armenian woodwind instrument) interaction.
As the album progresses, the listener is taken on a journey through a diverse range of styles and influences. The track "Evening Puja" is a haunting, meditative composition experiments “line” figures, while "Shpalartung", composed by Michaeli, pays tribute to a more traditional tune-oriented playing.
In "Subtler and subtler” in which Netzer is playing the clarinet, the two explore together “classier” colors, and simply entitled “Blues” is their tribute to the rich roots of free jazz and improvisation.
The final track of the album is a cover version of the well-known “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John, with an added electronic touch to the raw, acoustic overall approach of the album.
Throughout the album, Netzer and Michaeli’s chemistry is highly evident, as they seamlessly blend their distinctive voices to create a truly unique and captivating sound.

- Eyal Netzer, a composer and saxophonist based in Israel, began playing the saxophone at an early age. While continuously feeling the call for authentic sound exploration and self-expression, he studied at the Jerusalem Academy of Music, meeting two key figures in the Israeli free jazz scene as mentors – Dr. Stephen Horenstein and Albert Beger.
As a respected musician in the local jazz scene he plays regularly in Shay Hazan Quintet, which can be met on Europe's most prestigious stages; in Assif Tsahar’s orchestra; and played in William Parker and David Murray’s bands when they performed in Israel.
His passion for the duo art form led him to release his third album Shine as a leader, after collaborating previously with saxophonist Stephen Horenstein (Speaking Through The Walls, 2021) and vibraphonist Oded Geizhals (Duo, 2022).

- Milton Michaeli began playing the piano at an early age and studied at the Jerusalem Academy of Music. His original way of playing in and out of tradition, led him to play in Shay Hazan Quintet, Albert Beger Quartet; and Assif Tsahar Quartet. In addition he accompanied William Parker and David Murray when they performed in Israel.