Pianist/Keyboardist/Composer Arie Salma is a versatile musician who focuses on Jazz-Fusion music, many times with World influences. Born to Spanish parents in Israel, Arie was exposed to elements of Flamenco, Latin, African and Mediterranean music, which he likes blending with his Jazz playing and compositions.\par
Introduced to Jazz as a young teenager, Arie was listening to giants such as Chick Corea, George Benson, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Weather Report and others. After completing his musical degree in Rimon School of Jazz in Israel, and playing aside with many local famous artists, Arie moved to the US. He took part in a variety musical projects, many of them being his own creation.
Arie first album was Sandbox Groove ( 1999), a contemporary Jazz album which included artists such as Peter Erskine, Eric Marienthal, Armand Sabal-Lecco and Frank Gambale ( the Orchard music ).
For his 2021 album, named Brazilian Muse, Arie collaborated with musicians/friends such as Bassist Carlitos Del Puerto (the Chick Corea Spanish Heart band, Bassist Hussain Jiffry (player and producer for Herb Alpert), Drummer Steve Hass (drummer for John Scofield, Manhattan Transfer, Jeff Lorber and more), Drummer John Ferraro (drummer for Larry Carlton, Burt Bacharach and others), Percussionist Kevin Winard, Drummer Tal Bergman (drummer for John Bonamasa and others), and Brazilian vocalist Teka. The album sound ranges from light Jazz-Fusion to World Brazilian to Funky Smooth-Jazz.
Arie’s latest album, Through the Clouds, shows more of his Funky and Fusion endeavors, along with more Brazilan melodies. The album was a cloaboration of brilliant musicians such as Jimmy Haslip, Steve Hass, Gary Novak, Randal Clark, Hussain Jiffry, Kevin Winard, Teka , and Vicky Dove. “An album that lifts off with energy and elegance — weaving jazz fusion, smooth grooves, and a breeze of world rhythms. Pianist and composer Arie Salma shapes melodies that sparkle, flow, and soar, always marked by his unmistakable touch on the keys. “Through The Clouds” feels like an ascent: drifting higher, breaking through the haze, and letting the music guide the flight.” – JazzCrusader network, Europe
אריה סלמה