I listened to snippets of Avishai Cohen's latest release, At Home. The album of course has the definite flavor of a Avishai project. The polyrhythms, the complexed movements in sound, etc etc etc. However, these sounds and play on rhythms eventually become a little too predictable. It's kinda weird to have something as complexed as he does, yet feel it predictable. If you listen to some of the cuts off of this album such as Feediop, it sounds very similar to the track Balkan on his Colors project released a few years ago on Stretch Records. Now don't get me wrong this is definitely my boy and I'm beyond blessed to have been introduced to his music but when three of the CDs I've heard by him all mirror each other in an eery way......
It gets redundant (for lack of better words) I think his Lyla CD stands out the most with it's crisp horn section and it's play with the fender rhodes in tracks such as Handsonit. There is a very settle piece on At Home called No Words and even that resembles some of his piano solos heard on the Lyla project. I don't know....maybe the fact that Chick Corea had some influence with Lyla has something to do with how it stands out. My point is this....Home was definitely a surprise at first and I'm glad he was able to kick another album out of his mahogany bass however.....
If he kicked out another sound along with the album that would be nice as well."
Gracefully and masterfully
A.J.H. Woodcount | 09/23/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I saw the trio perform on the North Sea Jazz Festival 2005. Guiliana plays like he wants to run his kit. Barsh has enough attitude in his eyes -cocky like hell- to pass it into his music and Cohen is the masterbrain. I knew this from "At Home", but was still surpised by their fire on stage. They rock!!!
On "At Home" the trio is joined by an ensemble. This gives more depth to the sound. I am not a fan of the flute playing Anne Drummond, though on track 6 the compared sound of flute and flugelhorn sounds terrific. Track 3 involves singing which I believe to be a big mistake of the composing Cohen, but the music has a nice ethnic quality wich gives Cohen his identity.
Track 4 gives me the oppertunity to mention that great piano trio E.S.T. In Remembering the Cohentrio plays not unlike E.S.T., but otherwise this trio (& ensemble)is not to be compared. I find the sound new an never dull.
FJB/O!-music 2005
"
Very nice indeed
Nimrod | Israel | 06/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Avishai Cohen is, undoubtedly, one of the most talented and most interesting Jazz bassists today. As a bassist, seeing live was a very inspiring experience, and I learened a lot, not to mention enjoyed it greatly.
Although buying a CD right after the concert is sometimes a recepie for disappointment, this one wasn't. The CD is very pleasent to hear, and can be an excellent Jazz background CD, to work or relax to its sound.
However, it has much more that that. I haven't listened carefully to the bass playing yet, but I am certain it is great. The tunes are almost classical by sound, and yet, manage to be intetresting and constantly developing as Jazz should be.
My favorite piece is "Remembering". The basswork there is minimal, and the piano does most of the work. Yet, the result is such a beautiful Duet between them, that it is impossible to resist. Actually, earing it on radio made me search for this CD long before the concert.
The other songs are all worthy counterparts. Cohen's bands are excellent and do a great job in placing the bass in the center, and yet, not disappearing into the background. I must comment, though, that although Cohen's Upright Bass playing is innovative, original and interesting, there is nothing new in his Electric Bass playing. He plays it as he plays his upright.
However, I recommened this CD to any bass player. You should know Avishai Cohen's stuff, whether you play an upright or an electric. I bet you'll learn a lot by just listening.
In addition, I rcommened this CD to any Jazz lover, because it is indeed a very good piece of Jazz music."
Maravilloso,marvelous!!
Anemora | Costa Rica | 12/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"At home fue el disco que me introdujo en la musica de avishai cohen, por lo tanto ocupa un lugar muy especial en mi coleccion del trio.
Mi descubrimiento de avishai se dio cuando el trio visito Costa rica para una unica presentacion, a diferencia de muchos que lo conocieron primero por ser parte de Chick corea, lo cual creo que ha sido un factor importante en la manera de apreciar su musica sin tener la referencia "obligada" de su paso con Chick. Pero indudablemente la influencia de Chick esta muy presente en su musica, mas su sello personal me resulta sumamente interesante.
El At home es un album maravilloso en donde una vez mas Avishai explora los sonidos medio orientales, jazz, rock si se quiere incluso world music, todo combinado armoniosamente sin competir uno de otro.
Cuando uno escucha su musica realmente comprende que este trio son musicos de primer orden, sus composiciones son bien pensadas, con sentimiento, pero notablemente elaboradas y mejor aun arregladas.
Su musica viaja por el jazz-rock fusion de los 70s pero con un sonido tan contemporaneo y fresco que da gusto sentarse a escucharlo siempre, porque nunca cansa.
El entendimiento que tienen cada uno de los musicos es increible, y eso se nota en vivo, cuando cada uno improvisa majestuosamente sin nunca perder el tempo y sentimiento.
El At home es un disco con sonidos maravillosos, fue mi disco introductorio de su musica, tan maravillosa, la cual actualmente ya cuento con su discografia completa, pero ya sea este maravilloso disco o no el primero que escuche de Avishai no importa pues con solo engancharse con su musica sentira la imperosa necesidad de querer tener toda su musica, asi que dele la bienvenida a la musica de Avishai, su originalidad no la encuentra en ningun otro artista."