Press, Media

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

"Tunisian pianist Wajdi Cherif with his CD EP Phrygian Istikhbar, while retaining the flavor of his native country's music, places more emphasis on the jazz tradition, resulting in a fresh new sound that brings a different slant to the concept of world music". Jazzreview.com, Canada

"On the short program of Phrygian Istikhbar, Cherif covers a lot of territories. From the romantic solo piece "Tunis by Night" to the bendir-driven title track to the Bill Evans-informed, lightly-swinging "Waiting for Paris", Cherif shows himself to be a diverse and interesting composer and performer". E-jazznews.com, Canada

"I like fusions and mixing genres and have to say it didn't disappoint. Cherif is a young pianist and composer who has a clear vision of how he can merge the melodies and rhythms of Tunisia with the verve of a jazz quartet". Jazzreview.com, Canada

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

"Wajdi Cherif's relationship with Arabic music is reminiscent of Ravel's with Spain. Jasmine lives up to its name: like a beautiful Mediterranean shrub, it blooms towards the sun and offers colorful rhythms and fragrant notes to ears eager for shimmering and balanced music." Citizen Jazz, E-zine

"Wajdi Cherif has a graceful character without being precious... a charming album. He refers explicitly to the jazz universe but with the specificity of the pianist's musical roots." Jazz Hot Magazine

"Leading a quartet/quintet of beautiful cohesion, he offers warm and sensitive music but never tedious (listen to the superb and tonic Geranium Blues with Sauzay on tenor! A perfumed Music that proves that jazz métissage is not just a dilution of its essence in trendy mixtures."  Culture Jazz, E-zine

"Phrygian Istikhbar travels through pure improvisation horizons and dreamy rhythms. An unusual, airy album with a spiritual lightness. A must Have!"
Extra Music Magazine, Italy.

"The band is charming with its balance, ease, and a kind of luminous serenity partly due to the leader's very sensitive touch and soft and calming sound."
100 CD De Jazz Magazine, Belgium."

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"

“{Phrygian Istikhbar} is an interesting innovation on the musical and artistic scene in our region” … “It features a unique and contemporary blend of jazz, Arabic, and Tunisian rhythms and sounds by one of the finest pianists on the Tunisian musical stage…" 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"

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

"Wajdi Cherif immediately takes us into his very rich musical universe based on research and innovation."  Newspaper "L'expression", Algeria