Prophets: Where Classical Poise Meets Jazz Imagination

By Tomas Peña

PROPHETS is the bold new project from acclaimed pianist and composer Ronn Yedidia, featuring a finely attuned quartet of world-class musicians: Immanuel Davis (flute), Eddy Khaimovich (bass), and Paolo Cantarella (drums). Recorded at Kaleidoscope Sound between 2020 and 2023 and produced by Yedidia himself, Prophets weaves classical refinement, jazz invention, and chamber-like interplay into a sound that feels both timeless and forward-looking.

The album presents nine original compositions—Landscapes, Streams, Funking, Carry On, Arabesque, Flashback, Horizons, If Ever, and Quest—each unfolding as a distinct narrative. The meditative grace of If Ever, the lyrical sweep of Landscapes, and the rhythmic propulsion of Funking collectively sketch a vivid portrait of Yedidia’s evolving voice. Throughout, the ensemble’s fluid communication allows each player to shine: Davis’s flute moves with lyricism and precision, Khaimovich’s bass anchors the music with depth and balance, Cantarella’s dynamic drumming propels each passage, and Yedidia’s piano binds it all together as the quartet’s unifying force.

The album’s nine original tracks are sweeping, virtuosic, and meticulously composed—yet bursting with improvisational fire. From the driving odd meters of “Landscapes” to the funk-fueled grooves of “Funking” and the haunting lyricism of “If Ever,” Yedidia’s writing is as dynamic as it is emotionally resonant. The sound recalls the fearless creativity of Weather Report and Miles Davis, while forging a language all its own.

RONN YEDIDIA is an internationally acclaimed composer, pianist, and accordionist whose music has been performed and broadcast worldwide for more than three decades. Born in Tel Aviv in 1960, he was a child-prodigy pianist and First Prize winner at Israel’s Young Concert Artists Competition at age eight, later studying with legendary pianist Pnina Salzman.

At 15, Yedidia turned his focus to composition. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from The Juilliard School, studying with David Diamond and Milton Babbitt, and received Juilliard’s top composition honors, including the Richard Rodgers and Irving Berlin Scholarships. His works have been performed at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, and major festivals, and broadcast on NPR, WQXR, WNYC, and internationally. CLICK HERE TO READ ON JAZZDELAPENA