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 ).
In 2010, Arie created the Flamenco-Jazz musical group Sonido, along with Guitarist Rob Math. Sonido got and still gets played in many Jazz radio stations around the globe and received substantial reviews. Among contributors to the band were Drummer John Ferraro, Bassist Hussain Jiffry, Percussionist Bob Conti and legendary Percussionist, Alex Acuna. The band played in many known Jazz venues such as Catalina Jazz Club in Los Angeles. Arie has also collaborated with various world artists such as renown multi-instrumentalists, Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Grammy awarded Brazilian singer, Luciana Souza.
For his recent album, Brazilian Muse, Arie collaborated with musicians/friends such as Bassist Carlitos Del Puerto, Bassist Hussain Jiffry, Drummer Steve Hass, Drummer John Ferraro, Percussionist Kevin Winard, Drummer Tal Bergman, and Brazilian vocalist Teka. The album sound ranges from light Jazz-Fusion to World Brazilian to Funky Smooth-Jazz.