(Avishai Cohen, trumpet; Lionel Loueke, guitar & vocal; Jason Lindner, keyboards; Omer Avital, bass; Daniel Freedman, drums/percussion; Yosvany Terry, cherekere)
No, Avishai Cohen does not have a dual personality. There are two jazz/world music artists with exactly the same name and they both happen to be Israeli artists living in New York. The more exposed Avishai is the bassist who has several CDs as a leader and has played with Danilo Perez and Chick Corea. The Avishai Cohen whose new Anzic CD was just released is a trumpeter and this is just his second CD – the first was released a few years ago on the Fresh Sound-New Talent label.
The bassist Cohen primarily plays jazz with some Middle Eastern licks added. Trumpeter Cohen’s new CD is an eclectic stew of many cultures. It’s a CD looking for an identity. You’ll find African beats and chanting, heavy on percussion, and guitar by the upcoming star, Lionel Loueke. The title track is percussion laden and has very little trumpet. It has a drum circle vibe with a Fon African dialect being sung and cherekere played. Parto Forte is more of the same, this time with more of trumpet as part of the mix.
Gbede Temin is a feature for Loueke and has a bossa nova/African mix with additional untranslated dialect sung. Meditation on Two Chords is keyboard and acoustic bass dominated and has a catchy melody and synthesizer effects. It is among the stronger compositions here. Afterthoughts features Cohen on muted horn and Lindner on Fender Rhodes. It’s the closest thing to a jazz composition on the CD.
Miryama would find a home on a new age radio station that was open to African dialect over a relaxing keyboard and muted horn with bass accompaniment. African Daisy mixes the whole stew with Cohen playing strong trumpet over the percussion laden drum driven beat. The title track – Epilogue – finishes Cohen’s world beat adventure. It will be interesting to follow Cohen to see where his path leads to in the future.
If you expect straight jazz on this CD, you will be disappointed. However, if African Beat is your thing and percussion is paramount, you’ll appreciate After the Big Rain.
TrackList: After the Big Rain, Parto Forte, Gbede Temin, Meditation on Two Chords, Afterthoughts, Miryama, African Daisy, After the Big Rain-Epilogue
– Jeff Krow
