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Shai Vardi was born on June 17th, 1975, in Jerusalem, Israel. When he was 9, he moved to Nairobi, Kenya, where he lived until he graduated from high school. He started playing the bass when he was released from the army, at age 21.
The following year, he began studying Computer Science at the University of Tel Aviv.In 2001 he received his BSc in CS, but decided he wanted to be a professional musician and enrolled at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music. He graduated in 2005.
Since graduating, Shai has played with Jazz 'n Roll, which released their debut album "Blame It On The Bebop" in 2008. He also performed with Yosi Levi for 3 years in the Yosi Levi Trio. He has performed with many other
Israeli musicians, as well as international musicians such as Airto Moreira.
In 2008, he finally formed Dreaming Elephants.
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Noa Zulu has been playing since she remembers herself, and as a daughter to a classical
contrabass player, music has been part of her life before she was even born.
At first she learned to play the piano, the trumpet (which she even played
in the IDF military band) and the drums. After her army service, during a
trip around the world, she studied music and preformed with local artists
in Puerto-Rico, the United States and Africa.
Noa played with the popular group "Tribal Dance" for a period of three years. in the framework of
her activity she preformed constancy all around Israel in enormous performances which enraptured
over 1000 people in each event, and with international artists ,such as
Yossi Fine, Rakesh Chaurasia( one of the greatest bansuri musicians in India), Shai Ben Tzur
and "Hyam" group, Oy Division and more.
In the summer of 2008 they even performed in the biggest didgeridoo festival in Europe.
In those days Noa creates independent music and collaborates with different groups,
including "Pyromania" , "Tararam", "Digi-dance" and, of course, Dreaming Elephants.
Noa is a third year student in the yoga teachers course,
and guides trance-dance and tribal cultures workshops for adults and children,
in private gatherings and in different festivals around Israel. As a didgeridoo teacher,
she taught and still teaches many students.
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Shay Maoz was born in Yehud, Israel, on December 1st, 1976.
At the age of 9, Shay started his musical education. Until the age of 13 he took organ
lessons, but after beginning his studies at the
Thelma Yellin High School for the Arts he began taking piano lessons.
At this stage, his interest in jazz music began to grow.
During his high school years, Shay began realizing that music was much
more than a hobby. With the Thelma Yellin's big band he toured France
and the Netherlands and took part in various performances on TV Shows.
In addition, he acted as the musical producer and arranger at his own graduation.
Following his army service, Shay studied Economics and Management but after
three years he came back to music. In 2003 he joined the Rimon School of Jazz
and Contemporary Music and graduated with honors after two years – one of which
on full scholarship.
In 2004 Shay won first place at the Jazz Player contest, hosted by the Rimon
School and the Jerusalem Academy of Music. He then established a jazz trio
with Dan Ori – bass guitar and Roi Oliel – drums. Later on, this trio expanded
and became the Fourword Quartet with Ofer Peled on saxophones.
Following Shay’s success at the competition, he was sent to represent
the Rimon School at the annual IASJ convention that took place in Freiburg,
Germany. In 2005 he played with the Hot Jazz ensemble – the Rimon School
leading jazz group - and accompanied the well-known bass player, Jeff Berlin,
during his visit to Israel. They played together in a concert in Tel Aviv.
Today, Shay plays with different jazz ensembles:
The Fourword Quartet ( performed at the Red Sea Jazz Festival 2007 ),The Ilan Salem Quartet, Hagit Goldberg’s Band, and the Roi Oliel Sextet. He also performs with the saxophonist Tevet Sela ( performed at the Kaliningrad Jazz Festival 2007, Rusia ) , with the saxophonist Roni Tirosh ( performed at the Baku Jazz Festival 2006 , Azerbiejan ) , with the guitarist Uri Bracha ( performed at the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival 2007 ) and with the singer and guitar player Nir Popliker which recorded with him a debut album and took part in the arrangments.
Shay is also head of the jazz department at the Tel Aviv Arison Campus of the Arts. He teaches jazz harmony, ear training, and history of jazz music, and conducts a big band & jazz ensembles. He also teaches piano at different music schools such as : Mikey –Zahala Music School,Tel Aviv and Ra'anana Conservatory.
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Rot Oliel started playing piano when he was 5 years old,
he also started playing drums when he was 11 years old and quickly
it became his main instrument. After 3 years of army service he started
learning in Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music. Now days Roy
is one of Israel most working and appreciated drummers, and he's involved
in several groups playing all sorts and kind of music, such as jazz, rock,
classical music and world music. Roy also leads his own band called 'Roy Oliel Sextet'
which has just released its debut album: 'Introducing Roy Oliel Sextet'. The band plays compositions written and arranged by Roy.
The compositions are inspired from jazz greats of all arras such as John Coltrane,
Pat Metheny, Chick Corea and also from rock legends such as Led Zeppelin,
Jimmy Hendrix, Sting and many more.
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