Georgian jazz pianist ‘dazzles’ on Ireland tour

A young, talented Georgian Jazz pianist is in Ireland to perform in three special concerts around the country.

Yesterday 19-year-old Beka Gochiashvili performed as part of a trio ( Beka Gochiashvili - piano, Martin Jaffe - bass, Jimmy Macbride - drums) in Limerick while today the group will take to the stage in Galway and on March 27 they will play at the St Ann’s Church in Dublin. The tour was organised by the Basitour Music Company.

His talents were praised by American Jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea, who said: "Beka Gochiashvili is a brilliant young piano prodigy. You’ll be seeing a lot more of him in the next few years.”

Gochiashvili played alongside Corea in 2012 when the American came to Georgia and performed in the Tbilisi Jazz Festival.

Beka Gochiashvili is performing with Chick Corea in Tbilisi, Georgia. 

Meanwhile Gochiashvili’s short tour in Ireland was supported by the Georgian Embassy in Ireland.

The online edition of All about Jazz wrote that Gochiashvili will be "one of the most exciting things to happen” to Irish Jazz this year.

There is no doubt that Beka will be one of the most exciting things to happen to the Irish Jazz scene this year. His impressive feel and understanding of the music combined with incredible technique and a raw energy in his playing style will make this series of concerts unmissable,” it said.

Gichiashvili’s talent was noted at an early age. When he was 13 he participated in the prestigious Bosendorfer Solo Jazz Piano competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and was awarded first prize. He is the youngest recipient of the top award at this highly acclaimed annual festival.

At the age of 14 he appeared in Birdland in his own lead trios while still making return visits to Europe to participate in The Black Sea Jazz Festival, The Vienna Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival. He played in Birdland, New York City with Buster Williams and Lenny Write.

Now at age 19, he is an established member of the Stanley Clarke Band and has toured extensively with the jazz master over the last year.

Born in Tbilisi, Gochiashvili has been living and studying in New York for several years, fully immersing himself in the rich Jazz heritage and performing in world renowned clubs in the US.

His name is recognised in the Jazz industry by people all over the world, where many leading international media outlets have written about Gochiashvili.

The New York Times said: "Mr. Gochiashvili was ready yesterday. He gave us dazzle and ownership.”