Yuval's guitar playing is extremely melodic... He improvises in a compositional approach which I like very much, and he's got a very warm sound.
He is also a great composer.
- David Kikoski, Grammy Award winning pianist
GRAND PRIZE - BEST ENSEMBLE & BEST COMPOSER AWARD
La Defense Jazz Festival National Jazz Competition, France
FIRST PRIZE - BEST ENSEMBLE
Jazz at Saint-Germain-des-Pr​és Festival Competition, Paris, France
ALBUMS | REVIEWS | VIDEOS
MY 90S SUMMER
Fresh Sound Records, 2022
"LYRICAL AND TIMELESS... A BEAUTIFULLY PUT TOGETHER PROGRAM OF EIGHT VARIED ORIGINALS"
- The New York City Jazz Record
"A GUITAR MASTER WHO DESERVES ATTENTION"
- Jazzyell Japan
"A MODERNIST SENSIBILITY AND A MELODIST (HE)ART"
- Dan Bilawski, All About Jazz
I AIN'T GOT NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES
Fresh Sound Records, 2018
"A MASTER OF MELODY"
- FIP, Radio France
"THIS VIRTUOSO NEVER CEASES TO SUPPRISE US"
- Paris Move
"AMIHAI'S PLAYING IS EXTREMELY ELEGANT"
- Jazz News Magazine
LONGING
L'Autre Distribution, 2015
"A BEAUTIFUL GUITAR ALBUM... WARMLY RECOMENDED"
- TSF Jazz Radio, Paris
"SUPERB"
- Alex Dutilh, France Music
"GENTLENESS AND EXTRAORDINARY CLARITY"
- Ben Shalev, Haaretz
YUVAL AMIHAI ENSEMBLE
Absilone, 2012
"A DECLARATION OF UNIVERSAL LOVE"
- Citizen Jazz
"INNOVATIVE ORCHESTRATIONS"
- Jazz Magazine
"A RARE DELICACY"
- Paris Capital
Yuval Amihai is an Israeli born, New York City based jazz guitarist, composer, and educator. Yuval moved to Paris, France at the age of 24 and rapidly became a leading voice in the French jazz scene; he won several prestigious awards, including the Grand Prize the Best Composer Award of La Defense Jazz Festival National Jazz Competition, as well as the 1st Prize of the Jazz a Saint-Germain-des-Pres Competition in Paris. He also won multiple grants from the city of Paris and from the French copyright organization Sacem. While living in France, Amihai released three critically acclaimed albums as a leader, performed regularly at Paris' top jazz clubs (such as Sunside-Sunset, Baiser Salé and Duc des Lombards),
live radio shows (France Musique, TSF Jazz), and festivals around the country and abroad.
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In 2018 Yuval moved to New York City and began performing at many of the city's most venerated jazz clubs and venues such as Smalls Jazz Club, Mezzrow, Ornithology Jazz Club, Bar Next Door, Fat Cat (now Cellar Dog), Cafe Bohemia, and many more. He has worked with some of the scene’s top musicians including David Kikoski, Peter Bernstein, Eric Wheeler, Jeremy Dutton, Alexander Claffy, Joe Martin, Jonathan Barber, Anwar Marshall, Paul Bollenback, Curtis Nowosad, Ari Hoenig, Benny Benack III, Neal Caine, Ed Cherry, Jared Gold, Jason Brown, Colin Stranahan, Kush Abadey, and many more. In 2022 he released his 4th album as a leader and his New York debut album, My 90s Summer, on the renowned label Fresh Sound Records.
For booking, private lessons, recording sessions and inquiries: