Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Adi Yeshaya. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Adi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
For an aspired musician and composer in Israel of the 1970’s, I had to pave my own path. In my freshman year in high school, while playing keyboards in a band, I discovered the art of arranging and identified it right away as the field in composition that attracted me the most. In my search I stumbled across Henry Mancini’s book – “Sounds and Scores”. That was the beginning. My desire to learn everything I could about the subject led me into arranger Alex Weiss. Alex was the most sought after arranger in Tel Aviv during that time and his classical background, combined with his gift of finding just the right character a song needed, made me take in everything he had to offer. At that time, my interest in jazz music became stronger and, along with my studies of traditional harmony, theory and composition, I started taking lessons with Dr. Zvi Karen, a renowned music educator, pianist and an expert in the Joseph Schillinger system of music theory. From there, the path to Berklee College of Music became clear. I graduated Berklee in 1985 and after spending a year in Israel and working as an arranger and pianist, life moved me back to the US. After another year in Boston I moved to Minneapolis.
While making my way in the local music circles, I assembled my own 12-piece jazz big band as a mean of showcasing my arrangements and compositions. Having that exposure led to a chain of recording projects for local artists, local shows and, eventually, an invitation to arrange music for the Minnesota Orchestra. My first assignment for the orchestra was for the renown trumpet artist and band leader Doc Severinsen. That started a long relationship with, both, the orchestra and Doc.
Up until the late 90’s my method of writhing was as low-tech, traditional — pencil to paper. In a gradual way, at that point I moved into composing and arranging using technology.
In my musical journey so far, I got to arrange music for many recording projects, ensembles and artists. Among them – Prince, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Lena Horne, Burt Bacharach and NBC The Voice.
Adi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Adi Yeshaya I am a composer, arranger, producer, musician
Graduate of Berklee College of Music
I reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota
I compose, arrange and produce music for records, concerts, artists, ensembles, film and TV and perform as a piano player.
In addition, I am involved in music education.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I view my role and goal as a music maker to share music in three ways:
~ Creating (composing, arranging, producing),
~ Performance
~ Education
The idea that my livelihood is attached to enriching, entertaining and calming is very rewarding and it never gets old.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In 2004 I was commissioned to write a number of musical arrangements for a special concert Aretha Franklin gave in Detroit. Among them was an opera aria that was to be the centerpiece of show. I received recorded instructions by Miss Franklin and tried to follow them to the best of my ability. But when we rehearsed the piece later in Detroit, Miss Franklin could not hide her disappointment and my arrangement was rejected. Continuing the interaction with her and her crew after that point and hearing the aria being performed at the concert by Aretha Franklin with only piano accompaniment was one of the lowest points in my career and I felt like a complete failure.
However, her performance with the pianist revealed to me what I should have done different which I had a chance to admit it to Miss Franklin after the concert. Against all odds, she granted me another chance.
My second attempt was tried later in a concert in Toronto and very was successful. That restored her confidence in my work and my confidence in myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.adiyeshaya.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adiyeshayamusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adi.yeshaya.3
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adi-yeshaya
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AdiYeshaya
Image Credits
Peter Vit