Hearing the Shai Maestro Trio is like awakening to a new world: a world of wonders, excitement, beauty, and uncertainty. Sounds of intrigue, expressions of joy, introspective thoughts, and heightened intensity all come to the fore at one time or another as Maestro, bassist Jorge Roeder, and drummer Ziv Ravitz open up and share themselves through the music.

Right out of the gate, these three men establish themselves as high energy players and shrewd sculptors of rhythm ("Maya's Song"). Maestro's fingers seem to dance on the keys, Roeder pushes and prods while holding down the middle ground, and Ravitz delivers some rousing drum work that feeds and drives his band mates.

It's an impressive performance, but it's merely a glimpse of what this trio is capable of doing. Elsewhere, deep thoughts, traces of melancholy, and hints of hope make their way into the picture ("When You Stop Seeing"); Maestro's drowsy musings on a Chagall-esque piece of art are translated into music for all to hear ("Painting"); Ravitz's power and Maestro's finesse stare each other in the face before everybody comes together to ratchet up the level of power and tension in the music ("Elusive"); and introspection rules, as Maestro thoughtfully deliberates while Ravitz and Roeder lay things down in relatively plain fashion ("Looking Back (Quiet Reflection)").

Untold Stories is the third effort from this outfit, and it's an album that could only be made by a group of musicians who've had time to really get to know one another on a musical and personal level. This trio is a single entity, not a group of three musicians trying to grapple with the notion of togetherness, and these stories are all gripping, exhilarating, and gorgeous in their own way. (Dan Bilawsky)