Music/Jazz It wasn’t until he was 16 years old that Yaron Herman swapped his sporting ambitions for a passion for piano-playing. His remarkable talent may have been sufficient to win him a prize for emerging performers – but this wasn’t enough for him. His own theory of musical improvisation gained him considerable attention beyond the concert platform. The former President of the Montreux Festival jury has now progressed from being a child prodigy to an established star: his recording contract with the legendary Blue Note Records is one further step on his way through the history books of jazz. On his albums Herman demonstrates his openness in crossovers to the classics while his unconventional interpretations of pop and rock hits remain another of his trademarks. His playing is not only energetic: it also carries a persuasive melancholy power.