Shai Maestro, the gifted pianist born in Israel in 1987, joined the Avishai Cohen Trio as a fresh new voice in 2006. He began playing classical piano at the age of 5 with his first exposure to jazz coming at age of 8, listening to Oscar Peterson's "Gershwin Songbook". He was accepted to the Thelma Yellin High School of Performing Arts in Givataim where he completed his studies with honors, while simultaneously taking extended literature classes.