Jay (Yair) Vilnai

Brooklyn, New York, United States

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I am lucky to have been involved in music for as long as I did, and to do as many things as I got to do, with so many cool people. I didn't know, when I was plucking away at 'Leaving on a Jet Plane', that 20 years later, I will have played jazz, Brazilian music, Balkan music, Klezmer, avant-garde and what have you, and that I'd be sharing stages with anything from drumming African priests to symphony orchestras. But that's what happened. I think a big part of this unique musical journey owes to a unique heritage as a Russian-Romanian-Polish descendant raised in Jerusalem around a mix of contemporary and traditional Jewish and Arab music, with a soul for rock n'roll a BFA in jazz and an MM in concert composition. I picked up the guitar at 14, inspired by the music of Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd and the Beatles, but quickly became interested in jazz and got to play with jazz legend under Arnie Lawrence, who came through Jerusalem alot (and eventually moved there). Under his recommendation I began studies at the New School Jazz and Contemporary Music Program in New York in 2000 and graduated with honors in 2003. It was there I got to study with with Brad Shepik and Vic Juris, and composition with Kirk Nurock and Bob Sadin.  As a guitarist, I've had the phenomenal pleasure of performing with with Matt Darriau's Paradox Trio, Aaron Alexander's Midrash Mish Mosh and Romashka, as well as other ensembles in NYC's downtown and world music scenes, and share the stage with diverse figures such as trumpeter Frank London, drummer Kenny Wolleson and the Phoenix Symphony. At the New School, I was first exposed in a concentrated way to two strains that would become important for my music -  Balkan and Middle-Eastern music (including Oud studies with Palestinian master Najeeb Shaheen), and orchestral composition and arranging and 20th century music theory. Those interests led me to complete an MM in composition at Brooklyn College, studying with Jason Eckardt. During that time I received the John Cage Award for excellence in Composition and was composer in residence with the college's Contemporary Music Ensemble, directed by Ursula Oppens, and with the conservatory's orchestra, directed by George Rothman. In addition to these ensembles, I was commissioned to write for the Cooper Trio, ai ensemble, trombonist Jen Baker and video artist Elizabeth Hamby. Several of my compositions have been performed around the country, most notably by CUNY’s CME, OMNI Ensemble and the Brandy Chamber Society.  A little flute sonata called ‘Amiable Beast’ was a finalist in the International Music Prize for Excellence in Composition. Recently I've completed a trombone duo commission for my friend and amazing musician David Whitwell, to be performed this summer. My little per project is 'Vampire Suit', an improvising chamber quintet that combines my interests in Balkan music with contemporary, detailed chamber writing. I am lucky to have some of NYC's finest musicians perform in this group, and we've developed quite a relationship over the years. Vampire Suit has released two recordings to positive reviews, being called  'spirited and enjoyable' (Time Out NY), said to have 'enduring beauty' (Cadence Magazine), 'Bram Stoker's Transylvania jazz scene‘ (jazzreview.com), and posses an 'airy, festive, free-form atmosphere' (download.com, editor's pick).

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