Avishai Cohen

Born in Israel in 1970 the bassist Avishai Cohen moved to New York in 1992, first making his name on the international jazz scene as a member of the late Chick Corea’s ‘New Trio’ and later of the pianist’s larger Origin group.

Bassist Avishai Cohen's fourth Stretch release marks the debut of a new project, the International Vamp Band, which first went public in early 2001 in a series of performances at the Jazz Gallery in New York. Interestingly, Cohen is the band's pianist.

Naked Truth has a searching, yearning quality and a raw beauty and vulnerability in Avishai Cohen's trumpet sound on his most improvised ECM recording to date. Naked Truth is music of the moment, created during a remarkable recording session in the south of France, and takes the form of an improvised suite. The Israeli trumpeter meticulously leads most of the album, accompanied by his longtime companions, pianist Yonathan Avishai, bassist Barak Mori and drummer Ziv Ravitz, who have an intuitive understanding of the music's subtly shifting accents and are very attentive.

"Brightlight" Cohen showcases his multifaceted talents alongside a stellar ensemble of musicians. Among these are some of the brightest young talents, including drummer Roni Kaspi, pianist Guy Moskovich, his working core trio as the centre on many of the titles and joined by saxophonist Yuval Drabkin among others, infusing the music with a sense of spontaneity and drive.

Trumpeter Avishai Cohen follows his impressionistic, critically-lauded ECM debut with "Cross My Palm With Silver", five pieces that put the focus on the ensemble, on teamwork, with a quartet of the highest calibre. The adroit, almost telepathic interplay among the musicians allows Cohen to soar; his "dream team" of pianist Yonathan Avishai, double bassist Barak Mori and drummer Nasheet Waits share his sense for daring improvisation and his feeling for structure.

To those who are still wondering about the meaning of improvisation, Naked Truth give solid clues. Now well settled at ECM, trumpeter Avishai Cohen signs here an album driven by his senses, his inspiration and his free exchanges with his old compatriot accomplices the pianist Yonathan Avishai, the bassist Barak Mori and the drummer Ziv Ravitz.

"From Darkness" sees the Israeli composer, bassist and singer go back to the very core of his musical idiom and activity, but with Avishai, what may seem as a return to the basics always brings the promise of a new beginning. "From Darkness" once again opens an essential gateway into a new creative and expressive dimension. It is the first time since Gently Disturbed that I have the feeling I am reaching a new, fresh and incredibly substantial form with the trio. A belief reinforced by two outstanding partners, pianist Nitai Hershkovits and drummer Daniel Dor. Both Nitai and Daniel take my music to places and perspectives that I had never suspected it would go and I couldn t dream of anything better. Avishai goes on to describe this chemistry between them as; Here, three becomes one.

Iroko launches Avishai Cohen's longtime dream "to do a Latin project with his favorite Latin musician in New York". Israel based bassist - singer and master conguero-vocalist Abraham Rodriguez Jr., brim with tunefulness, grooves, warmth, indelible melodies and the bonds of brotherhood to summon Yoruba gods. In Yoruba lore, Iroko is a complicated symbol-a troll inhabiting the top branches of a tree called "the throne of god," guarded against lest he come to earth, be seen and drive men mad. But Iroko, the French naïve label's unique release by singer-bassist Avishai Cohen and conguero-vocalist Abraham Rodriguez Jr., brims with tunefulness, grooves and warmth.