Omri Mor is a pianist, composer and arranger. His musical prowess ranges from Classical and Jazz to Arabo-andalusian music. As of today, he tours frequently with Bassist Avishai Cohen’s trio, and has recently released his debut album, “It’s About Time!” (naïve-believe, 2018).

Born in Israel in 1983, Omri began playing at age 7 by picking out tunes he liked at the keyboard. He had his first piano lessons at age 11. Initially, his studies were based mainly on learning by ear, even pieces as intricate as Beethoven sonatas.

Around the age of 14, Omri met three of his major musical influences. He began studying classical music under the guidance of Prof. Benjamin Oren. Almost simultaneously, he joined Jazz saxophonist and educator Arnie Lawrence’s class. Within a year, Lawrence had invited Omri to join him on a weekly gig at a local coffee place. While Omri continued his classical and Jazz education, he met Moroccan-born singer and multi-instrumentalist Nino Bitton, a master of Arabo-Andalusian and Algerian Chaâbi styles, among others. Omri would visit Nino on a daily basis for lessons that could stretch from late afternoon into the early hours of the morning; friends and amateur musicians would be coming in and out all the while. As soon as he had covered enough repertoire, Omri joined Nino’s band, playing and recording alongside him.

Since then, Mor has continued to perform and record in these various musical genres: he is a member of Bassist Avishai Cohen’s Jazz trio, with which tours widely; a pianist in Drummer Karim Ziad’s band and Algerian Chaâbi Orchestra El Gusto. He has performed as a soloist with the major Arabo-andalusian Orchestra in Israel, and as a classical pianist with several Classical Symphonic orchestras. His musical collaborations in the past years include performances with Algerian-born pianist Maurice El Medioni, Moroccan Gnawa masters Hamid el Kasri, Abdelkebir Merchane and the late Mahmoud Guinea. He has also collaborated with Paytan Rabbi Haim Louk, and Israeli rock artists such as Berry Sakharof, Micha Shitrit, Shlomo Gronich, Shlomo Bar, Rami Kleinstein and more.

Omri Mor’s debut album, “It’s about time!”, comes at a point where his unique musical language is at its peak. His soulful compositions are emblematic of his diverse musical influences and present his virtuosic pianistic skills. Alongside him on the album are some of the leading musical figures in today’s musical scene: Bassist Avishai Cohen, Drummer Karim Ziad, Bassist Michel Alibo, Drummer Donald Kontomanou and Maâlem Abdelkébir Merchane.