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Avishai Cohen

Avishai Cohen, born in Kabri, Israel on April 20th, 1970, has over the course of his career helped bring the bass into the spotlight and has pushed the boundaries of jazz. His work has earned him international awards and global recognition. He has developed a strong network of followers and listeners, striking a chord with the audience wherever he has performed. Meanwhile, his unique compositions have been used in many films, TV and other media. The stage is undoubtedly a place where Avishai feels at home, so much so that attending one of his live performances is probably the best way to get acquainted with his musical universe. DownBeat magazine called Avishai “a jazz visionary of global proportions” while Bass Player magazine declared him one of the 100 most influential bass players of the twentieth century.

Avishai grew up in a multicultural family whose roots are found in Spain, Greece and Poland. At home, music was always in the air, with his mother Ora listening to both classical and traditional music. Avishai’s musical journey started when he began playing the piano at nine years old. After moving to St. Louis, Missouri with his family aged fourteen, he continued to study the piano and discovered the bass guitar. The electric bass put a spell on him when his teacher introduced him to the music of luminary bassist Jaco Pastorius and Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. Back in Israel, Avishai joined the Music and Arts Academy in Jerusalem and turned to the upright bass. At the age of 22, having served for two years in an army band, he decided to take a big step and moved to New York City.

Avishai arrived in a wintry New York, in January 1992. Moving to the Big Apple was a challenging decision, emotionally as well as professionally. The young Israeli had a tough beginning; performing on the streets and working in construction to get by. These small steps gave his music a unique sense of authenticity. He enrolled at the New School in New York City and was a contemporary there of such artists as Brad Mehldau and Peter Bernstein. Avishai was soon to be performing and recording with Panamanian pianist Danilo Perez’s Trio, reflecting the essential role that Latin music played in Avishai’s early years in New York.

In 1997 a call from Chick Corea changed everything. Avishai had prepared for this moment. He had passed one of Corea’s friends a demo tape. Chick listened to it in his car and called Avishai back a few weeks later, blown away by its freshness. As a co-founder of Corea’s Origina ensemble and a member of Corea’s New Trio, for over six years Avishai became an integral part of Chick’s music and received the opportunity to fine-tune his skills as bassist, composer and bandleader. Performing and touring with the master pianist played an important part in shaping Avishai’s musicianship. Avishai considers Chick a teacher, colleague and dear friend.

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Live Review

Avishai Cohen Trio al Roma Jazz Festival

Read "Avishai Cohen Trio al Roma Jazz Festival" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


Avishai Cohen Trio Roma Jazz Festival Auditorium Parco della Musica Roma 03.11.2023 Altro ritorno importante al Roma Jazz Festival quello del contrabbassista israeliano Avishai Cohen col suo trio, formazione che ha sempre avuto un ruolo importante nei progetti musicali propri o di altri cui ha partecipato, a cominciare dai trii dei pianisti Danilo Perez e Chick Corea che lo hanno lanciato nella seconda metà degli anni '90. Nei propri trii ...

5
Album Review

Chick Corea: The Montreux Years

Read "The Montreux Years" reviewed by Doug Collette


If there is anything more ambitious than curating an extensive, comprehensive collection covering the history of an artist, it is collating selected works which vividly outline a particular timeline or theme. Chick Corea's The Montreux Years is a fine example of the latter; this seventh edition in the archive series devoted to the iconic festival not only reflects the late composer and pianist's technical skills, but also his eclectic stylistic tastes. And that is not to mention his fondness for ...

5
Album Review

Glenn Zottola & Chick Corea: The Legend & I

Read "The Legend & I" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


With his untimely passing in February 2021, accolades emanated worldwide from musicians, critics and fans about multi-Grammy winner Chick Corea. What was less known then is the fact that Corea and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire Glen Zottola were not only longtime close pals, but frequently interacted musically. The Legend & I is an artistic culmination of that friendship and professional relationship. And, as might be expected from artists of this caliber, the result is spectacular. The album offers a ...

4
Album Review

Glenn Zottola & Chick Corea: The Legend & I

Read "The Legend & I" reviewed by Edward Blanco


There have been several musical tributes to the late great Armando Anthony “Chick" Corea since his untimely passing in February, 2021, mostly from fellow musicians. However, The Legend and I is an intimate musical portrait from LA multi-instrumentalist Glenn Zottola who just happened to be one of Corea's best long-time personal friends. As Zottola affirms “He was my best friend and is dearly missed, but I know he will continue to create as that was his relentless purpose in life." ...

9
Album Review

Avishai Cohen: Shifting Sands

Read "Shifting Sands" reviewed by Phillip Woolever


Consistency and excellence are two of the most fundamental requisites for achieving an optimal career in music. The Israeli bassist and composer Avishai Cohen has maintained those standards for many years, and his new trio emerges with a powerful offering that should reinforce his status as a jazz-based titan. This formation enlists familiar, longtime collaborator Elchin Shirinov on piano with a relative newcomer and recent Berklee graduate, 21-year old drummer Roni Kaspi. The results of their initial collaboration are stirring ...

Live Review

Avishai Cohen Trio al Crossroads Festival 2021

Read "Avishai Cohen Trio al Crossroads Festival 2021" reviewed by Emmanuel Di Tommaso


Avishai Cohen Trio Crossroads Festival 2021 Arena Lido Rimini 25.7.2021 Dopo quasi due anni dall'ultimo concerto in Italia, Avishai Cohen ritorna a suonare nel Bel Paese nell'ambito di un tour europeo che durerà fino all'autunno prossimo. Sul palco dell'Arena Lido, spaziosa e confortevole location situata sulla Darsena di Rimini, Cohen sale sul palco accompagnato dal fidato pianista Elchin Shirinov e da Roni Kaspi alla batteria, per uno dei concerti più attesi dell'edizione 2021 del ...

12
Album Review

Avishai Cohen: Two Roses

Read "Two Roses" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Avishai Cohen dreamed big, with images of symphony orchestras dancing in his head. The Israeli-born bassist maneuvered that dream into a reality with Two Roses, a recording that finds Cohen in the company of the ninety-two piece Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, in addition to his jazz cohorts, Azerbaijani pianist Elchin Shirinov and New Jersey born and bred drummer Mark Guiliana. Eleven of the tunes presented here, in this lush landscape, come from Cohen's pen. The title piece is a ...

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1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Avishai Cohen's birthday today!

Bassist/Composer Avishai Cohen, born April 20, 1970 in Israel, a musician who has been called a “jazz visionary of global proportions” by DownBeat, and was declared one of the 100 Most Influential Bass Players of the 20th Century by Bass Player Magazine, is renowned around the world as an influential double bassist and profound composer, and has received a deluge of critical praise for his recent recorded output and live performances. ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Avishai Cohen's birthday today!

Bassist/Composer Avishai Cohen, born April 20, 1970 in Israel, a musician who has been called a “jazz visionary of global proportions” by DownBeat, and was declared one of the 100 Most Influential Bass Players of the 20th Century by Bass Player Magazine, is renowned around the world as an influential double bassist and profound composer, and has received a deluge of critical praise for his recent recorded output and live performances. ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Avishai Cohen's birthday today!

Bassist/Composer Avishai Cohen, born April 20, 1970 in Israel, a musician who has been called a “jazz visionary of global proportions” by DownBeat, and was declared one of the 100 Most Influential Bass Players of the 20th Century by Bass Player Magazine, is renowned around the world as an influential double bassist and profound composer, and has received a deluge of critical praise for his recent recorded output and live performances. ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Avishai Cohen's birthday today!

Bassist/Composer Avishai Cohen, born April 20, 1970 in Israel, a musician who has been called a “jazz visionary of global proportions” by DownBeat, and was declared one of the 100 Most Influential Bass Players of the 20th Century by Bass Player Magazine, is renowned around the world as an influential double bassist and profound composer, and has received a deluge of critical praise for his recent recorded output and live performances. ...

2

Recording

Avishai Cohen and Yonathan Avishai Release Playing The Room on ECM Records. Out Now!

Avishai Cohen and Yonathan Avishai Release Playing The Room on ECM Records. Out Now!

Source: ECM Records

Playing The Room bears testimony to the long musical friendship of Avishai Cohen and Yonathan Avishai. They began to explore jazz as teenagers in Tel Aviv, and have continued to play together over many years, with Yonathan recently making important contributions to Avishai’s group albums on ECM. Their first duo recording begins with music composed by the trumpeter and by the pianist and concludes with a touching interpretation of Israeli composer Alexander Argov’s cradle song “Shir Eres”. Along the way, ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Avishai Cohen's birthday today!

Bassist/Composer Avishai Cohen, born April 20, 1970 in Israel, a musician who has been called a “jazz visionary of global proportions” by DownBeat, and was declared one of the 100 Most Influential Bass Players of the 20th Century by Bass Player Magazine, is renowned around the world as an influential double bassist and profound composer, and has received a deluge of critical praise for his recent recorded output and live performances... ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Avishai Cohen's birthday today!

Bassist/Composer Avishai Cohen, born April 20, 1970 in Israel, a musician who has been called a “jazz visionary of global proportions” by DownBeat, and was declared one of the 100 Most Influential Bass Players of the 20th Century by Bass Player Magazine, is renowned around the world as an influential double bassist and profound composer, and has received a deluge of critical praise for his recent recorded output and live performances... ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Avishai Cohen's birthday today!

Bassist/Composer Avishai Cohen, born April 20, 1970 in Israel, a musician who has been called a “jazz visionary of global proportions” by DownBeat, and was declared one of the 100 Most Influential Bass Players of the 20th Century by Bass Player Magazine, is renowned around the world as an influential double bassist and profound composer, and has received a deluge of critical praise for his recent recorded output and live performances... ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Jazz Musician of the Day: Avishai Cohen

Source: Michael Ricci


3

Recording

ECM Records Releases Avishai Cohen's "Into The Silence"

ECM Records Releases Avishai Cohen's "Into The Silence"

Source: Universal Music Group

Avishai Cohen: trumpet; Yonathan Avishai: piano; Eric Revis: double bass; Nasheet Waits: drums; Bill McHenry: tenor saxophone. Avishai Cohen impressed a lot of listeners with his soulful contributions to Mark Turner’s Lathe of Heaven album in 2014. Now the charismatic Tel Aviv-born trumpeter has his ECM leader debut in a program of expansive and impressionistic compositions for jazz quartet (trumpet, piano, bass, drums), augmented by tenor saxophone on a few pieces. Into The Silence is dedicated to the memory of ...

Daniel Villa Verde
guitar, acoustic
Clemens Rofner
bass, acoustic
Nicolas Ojeda
bass, acoustic
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band / ensemble / orchestra
Tulio Araujo
pandeiro
Inbar Paz
bass, acoustic
Vinay Kaushal
guitar, electric
José Valentino
multi-instrumentalist
Ilugdin Trio
band / ensemble / orchestra
Tracy Yang
composer / conductor
Arcangelo Pezzella
guitar, electric
AP Project
band / ensemble / orchestra
Jo Kaiat
piano
Syna Awel
vocals
Matteo Mosolo
bass, acoustic
Apostolo Kalt Orchestra
bass, electric
Ash Luo
drums
Ido Spak
piano
Bojh Parker
guitar
Or Shovaly
guitar
Syna
vocals
Ines Velasco
composer / conductor

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Shifting Sands

naive/believe
2022

buy

The Legend & I

Self Produced
2022

buy

Two Roses

Naive / Believe
2021

buy

Come To My World

Imago Records
2020

buy

25 Years

Ridgeway Records
2020

buy

Koreduga La Joie

From: Come To My World
By Avishai Cohen

Seven Seas

From: Seven Seas
By Avishai Cohen

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