Since the release of his 2020 EP Rough Cuts, London-based Israeli-born pianist and producer Yoni Mayraz has been making a strong name for himself, actively performing at numerous major venues and festivals around the world including London’s legendary Ronnie Scott’s and The Jazz Cafe. He just released his debut LP on Astigmatic Records, titled Dybbuk Tse! (which comes from Jewish folklore, meaning a command to remove a malevolent wandering spirit from a possessed body).

This superb 11-track recording, which according to Mayraz is experimenting with the “darker side of things,” brilliant blends together a mix of soulful warm-tone keys, with cosmic spacey textures, Middle Eastern melodies, 90’s era NYC hip hop-inspired rhythms, and raw old school breakbeat grooves. With a nod towards the dancefloor, the music nicely melds together modern jazz influences and London club culture.

Joining Mayraz on the session, is bassist Eli Orr and drummer Roy Reemy, in addition to appearances by saxophonist Matan Vardi, flautist Joe Melnicove, and trumpeter Roy Zuzovsky.

Since the first few singles started leaking out this Spring, Dybbuk Tse! quickly became one of the most-anticipated releases of 2023 for many, and this album certainly lives up to the hype. An overall impressive full-length debut, and by far one of the the best jazz records to come out this year.

Yoni Mayraz — ‘Dybbuk Tse!’
(Astigmatic Records)

1. Landed
2. Pawnshop
3. The Master Wore a White Robe
4. Palms
5. Dybbuk Tse!
6. 1999
7. As We Entered Jericho
8. International Plots
9. Painkillers
10. South Star
11. The Biggest Fear

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• Cosmic
• Jazz
• Jazz Funk