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Wajdi Cherif

“Jasmine is a prime example of a totally successful fusion of different music…" All About Jazz, USA

"[Wajdi] Cherif shows himself to be a diverse and interesting composer and performer." Jazzreview.com, USA

Wajdi Cherif's passion for music began at a young age when he started playing pop music he heard on the local radio by ear at the age of five. It wasn't until his late twenties, while studying in college, that his interest in jazz was sparked. He then discovered the works of pianists Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Thelonious Monk by watching their live performance videos. This pivotal moment marked a turning point in his musical career, and he decided to delve deeper into jazz piano and composition.

In 1998, Wajdi Cherif made his professional debut as a jazz pianist when he played with local jazz musicians at various venues and festivals in Tunisia. This was a valuable opportunity for him to collaborate with international jazz artists who were touring the country at the time. A few months later, he the opening set for jazz legend Archie Shepp at the “Jazz in Tunis” festival in the City Hall Theatre in Tunis.

Determined to further his musical passion, Wajdi moved to France and studied jazz piano and harmony with pianist Bernard Maury, a disciple and close friend of Bill Evans. During this time, he was exposed to great jazz pianists such as Kenny Werner, Chick Corea, Ahmad Jamal, and Martial Solal, to name a few. These experiences shaped his vision of music and piano playing and influenced his unique approach to playing the piano and writing music.

In 2003, Wajdi Cherif recorded his debut album “Phrygian Istikhbar” in Paris with Diego Imbert on acoustic bass, Jeff Boudreau on drums, and Habib Samandi on Arabic percussion. The album was a finalist in the Indie Acoustic Awards in the USA in 2004 and received positive reviews. Wajdi Cherif continued to mature as a pianist and composer with his 2006 album “Jasmine”, recorded with some of France's finest young jazz musicians. The album received accolades such as an honorable mention in the International Songwriting Competition (judged by Sonny Rollins, John Scofield, and Steve Vai), the Indie Acoustic Project's Best CD of 2005, and the first-place winner of the UNISONG Songwriting Contest.

Wajdi Cherif released his third album “Fuzzy Colors” in 2009, a fusion of jazz and personal compositions that showcase his musical influences. With his unique sound and distinctive performances, Wajdi has established himself as a leading jazz pianist on the jazz scene, performing at renowned venues such as the Tabarka Jazz Festival in Tunisia, the Institut Du Monde Arabe in Paris, the Jazz Festival of Reims in France, the Theatre Maison Neuve in Canada, and more. He has also played in several iconic jazz clubs in Paris, including the Duc des Lombards, Sunset/Sunside, and Baiser Salé.

Wajdi Cherif's talent has been recognized through several awards, including the International Songwriting Competition, Unisong Songwriting Competition, Songdoor Songwriting Competition, and "Cité Internationale des Arts de Paris". With a strong passion for jazz and other types of music, he continues to build a bridge between different worlds through his music and performances.

In The Press

US and CANADA

“Jasmine is a prime example of a totally successful fusion of different music…" AllaboutJazz.com, USA

"Cherif shows himself to be à diverse and interesting composer and performer. While Cherif's influences are strongly evident, the context of the music shows that he is developing his own voice." Jazzreview.com, USA

"I must tell you how much I truly enjoyed your tastefully composed and so excellently arranged, Produced, and played Instrumental piece. In fact, as a veteran 25-year songwriter myself in addition to overseeing "Unisong" as one spoke of my own career wheel, the highest compliment I can pay you is to say I wish I'd written "Pochade" myself". Alan Roy Scott, Unisong International Songwriting Competition, USA

FRANCE

"Pianist Wajdi Cherif gives his piano a unique, very expressive, and charming accent. He has chosen a difficult and exciting path and is on the right track."
JAZZMAN Magazine

"Influenced by the multiple colors of oriental music, Wajdi Cherif dresses his music with a delicate sense of harmony and sweet elegance. A subtle airy and volatile fragrance emanates from this melodic richness from the American continent and the sweetness of oriental sounds from the African continent."
Le NOUVEL OBS Magazine

"This self-taught young pianist offers us jazz that reveals him as a very talented pianist with a strong personality. It is not a collage mixture as some others produce."
Jazz Hot Magazine

TUNISIA

“Wajdi Cherif gives his piano a unique, very expressive, and charming accent. Music in which the piano expresses itself in splendid melodies...” Newspaper "La Presse"

"Wajdi Cherif has a personal phrasing that promoted him to the rank of confirmed instrumentalists and talented composers." Newspaper "Le Temps

"Each composition is opened with a typical Tunisian musical style or sound but moves gradually to harmonies charged with the imagination and the [musical] sensitivity of [pianist] Wajdi Cherif." Newspaper "Tunis Hebdo"

Past Performances

USA/CANADA: Flushing Townhall, Opera America, Hudson Hall, Festival du Monde Arabe (CA), Maison Neuve Theater (CA), etc.

FRANCE/EUROPE: Théâtre du Rond-Point des Champs Elysées (Paris), Duc Des Lombards (Paris), Le New Morning (Paris), Sunset-Sunside Jazz Club (Paris), Le Baiser Salé (Paris), Cité des Arts (Paris), Jazz Au Fil de L'oise (Auvers-sur-oise, France), Jazz at La Villette, AJMI (Avignon), Cava Jazz (Alba La Romaine), Les Flanneries Musicales de Reims (Reims), Arab World Institute (Paris), Prague International Jazz Festiva l (Prague), ...

NORTH AFRICA: Jazz in Carthage (Tunis), Tabarka Jazz Festival (Tunisia), Jazz in Tunis Festival (opening for Archie Shepp/Eric Lelann), Carthage International Festival (Tunis), Tabarka Jazz Festival (Tunis), Majazz Festival (Algeria), Tanjazz Festival (Morocco), ...

Prizes/Distinctions

" Top 20 Finalist Winner" in the UNISONG International Songwriting Competition (USA)
Cité Internationale des Arts (Paris): artist residency.
Martial Solal Jazz Piano Competition, France (selection)
Indie Acoustic Project Best CD of 2005 (USA)
UNISONG Songwriting Competition (USA), (1st prize winner).
SONGDOOR International Songwriting Competition (USA) (Finalist)

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