Elias Meister
Born in 1983 in Munich (Germany) guitarist Elias Meister is based in New York city since 2007. His numerous interests in different styles and ways of expression have led him to perform in a broad variety of musical settings.
He leads his own groups, such as the Experimental Rock and Groove band Spacepilot with Leo Genovese and Joe Hertenstein, that performed at the Moers Festival and the XJAZZ Festival (Berlin) in 2017 among their shows in three tours to Germany and neighboring countries. They released their debut vinyl 'Exophonia' in 2016 (which the Süddeutsche Zeitung described as 'dancing and floating in zero gravity') and their second vinyl 'Particle Horizon' (feat. Grammy-nominated trumpeter Tim Hagans) in 2018.
In May 2022 they released their latest album ‘Hycean Worlds’ digitally and as a ‘limited collector’s edition vinyl’ of 20 signed and numbered copies with unique designs. The record, that was recorded live at the Red Horn District in Germany, was lauded as ‘a new classic in space rock… a terrific album and one of the funnest of the year’ by NYC Jazz Record.
He is also founding member of the live and improvised Techno and House collective N/UM, that has released three vinyls and performed at Output (NYC), Flash (Washington D.C.) and Mono (Mexico City). In early 2019 they toured in India and later that year performed at the renowned Fusion Festival (Laerz, Germany) and at famed Berlin clubs Kater Blau and Sisyphos. They also performed at Burning Man in 2021 and at the famed Cityfox Live (at Avant Gardner, Brooklyn) and Mutek Festival in Montreal the following year bringing the immediacy of improvisation into places where it’s rarely heard: warehouse raves, clubs and electronic music festivals.
In early 2017 Elias Meister joined 28-time Grammy winner Residente's new band (the artist with the most Latin Grammy Awards in history) with whom he has toured multiple times in Europe, the US, played to sold out stadiums in Central and South America, performed at the 2017 Latin Grammys and also filmed a concert for Austin City Limits TV. He recorded guitar for Residente's hit single 'Sexo' (now at over 90 million views on YouTube). In late 2019 they performed at Zocalo (Mexico City) for an audience of 200 000 people.
Furthermore he is active as a contemporary jazz musician and has released three Rock-infused Jazz albums: Elias Meister's Miracle Box, Open for Business and Illumi's Journey. He is freelancing for different singer/songwriter projects and pop singers and performing music for modern dance companies. He also composed and produced Pop music for five movies by the major German production company 'Bavaria Film'.
Some of the notable players that Elias Meister has recorded and/or shared the stage with include George Garzone, Ben Street, Seamus Blake, Kevin Hays, Leo Genovese, Tony Royster Jr., Thomas Pridgen and Carlos Bica. His albums, recorded and/or mixed by multiple Grammy-awarded engineers Jeremy Loucas and Elliot Scheiner, have been lauded by the international press: 'Daring & Playful' ★★★★ Downbeat, 'Postbob with Rock attitude' NYC Jazz Record, 'Intelligent... powerful and sensitive' Jazzpodium.
Elias Meister holds a 'summa cum laude' Bachelor's Degree from the Berklee College of Music, which he attended as a scholarship student from 2004 to 2007.
The palette of sounds which Elias Meister is utilizing is vast: from the intricacy of Classical and Brazilian finger-picking over Jazz and sonic Improvisations to powerful Rock playing and heavily effected sounds using various electric, nylon and steel string guitars. Being open to new kinds of music and ways of creating sound with the guitar has always been an important part of his artistic strive and he continues to expand his musical means of expression.
Press
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New York city JAZZ record | George Grella
“A new classic in space rock… There is not a weak moment on Hycean Worlds… Rootsy, both nostalgic and fresh, this is a terrific album and one of the funnest of the year!”
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DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE | Brad Farberman
“One of the thrills of Open for Business... is in watching Elias Meister as he morphs from track to track. Daring & Playful!” ★★★★
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JAZZPODIUM | Alexander Schmitz
“It is impossible to pin down his playing to one style ... Elias Meister has a lot to talk about thanks to his incredibly broad musical interests and activities. The release of his new album Open for Business was the reason to ask him for a transatlantic interview.”
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new york city Jazz Record | tom greenland
“Open for Business [is] a genre-bender delivering postbop with rock attitude. The group's music ... is both intelligent and accessible.”
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july 2011 | jazzpodium | alexander schmitz
“His playing, his group, his jazz possess character, good style and energy. [Elias Meister's Illumi's Journey is] intelligent ... powerful and sensitive.”
Illustrations by
Claudine Eriksson
Contact info@Eliasmeister.com
Photo by: Alejandro Pedrosa
Discography
AS A LEADER
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Spacepilot
Hycean Worlds | Vinyl
Orbit 577, 2022
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Elias Meister & Vasko Dukovski
Abiogenesis
EM, 2020
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Spacepilot
(ft. Tim Hagans &
Jack Daniel)
Particle Horizon | Vinyl
Springstoff, 2018
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Spacepilot
Exophonia | Vinyl
EM, 2016
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Elias Meister
Elias Meister's
Miracle Box
EM, 2013
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Elias Meister &
Pancho Molina
Open For Business
EMPM, 2012
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Elias Meister
Illumi's Journey
Konnex, 2011
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Elias Meister &
Rita Maria
Simple Waltz
limited ed. release, 2010
AS A CO-LEADER
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Cloud Explosion
Cloud Explosion | Vinyl
EM, 2019
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N/UM
Ravens | Vinyl
Positive Elevation, 2019
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N/UM
Aporia
Lost Diaries, 2018
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N/UM
Yes｜Vinyl
Ninetofire, 2017
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N/UM
Zebra｜Vinyl
Duro, 2016
COLLABORATIONS
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Mon Khmer
Side by Side
2017
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Bowmont
Hovering
2014
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Bowmont
Euphorian Age | Vinyl
2013
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Mon Khmer
Dreamers
2012
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Mon Khmer
Birthplace
2011
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Mon Khmer
Mon Khmer | Vinyl
Daily Vinyl, 2010
MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS
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Hier kommt Lola
Jumbo, 2010
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Die Wilden Huehner und das Leben
Jumbo, 2009
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Die Wilden Huehner und ihre Songs
Jumbo, 2009
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Summertime Blues
Goya, 2009
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Die Wilden Huehner
Sony, 2006
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TKKG
Europa, 2006