Avishai Cohen Big Vicious

Avishai Cohen
Big Vicious
ECM

Speaking of his new album "Big Vicious," Israeli trumpeter Avishai Cohen states that the recording reaches far beyond jazz. "We're all coming from jazz, but some of us left it earlier. Everyone's bringing in their backgrounds, and that becomes part of the sound of the band." Textures from electronica, ambient music and psychedelia are part of the musical blend, as are grooves and beats from rock, pop, trip-hop and more.

The album title also reflects the name of the group heard on this. Joining Cohen, who plays trumpet and synthesizer, and provides effects, are guitarist Uzi Ramirez, guitarist/bassist Jonathan Albalak, drummer Aviv Cohen, and drummer Ziv Ravitz. About this group, Ravitz observed that "In the combination of everything, this is a magical group. It's very special because you would expect it to explode, with total drama. But the music is deep, and very melodic."

There is a mix of repeated grooves and Cohen's inquisitive lyrical trumpet. Guitarist Ramirez (who I assume he takes most of the solos) has his own melodic qualities. "Hidden Chamber" is a fascinating number that also includes Ravitz's sampling of some speeches at the close. "King Kutner" has an album rock groove with the mix of searing guitar lines as well as effects, and Cohen's soaring trumpet quite engaging. Then there is a haunting interpretation of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata," with Cohen's melancholy trumpet over the trebly guitar backing. "Fractals" has an intriguing mix of a synthesizer with various effects, including the use of echo that lends an ethereal quality to Cohen's trumpet. The textures the ensemble creates adds to the mesmerizing quality here. The variety of moods is further displayed by the alluring guitar interplay on "The Things You Tell Me," with Cohen adding atmospheric trumpet midway.

The sound of this recording is superb, as one expects with ECM. The music on "Big Vicious" has grown on this listener with repeated listening with Cohen's evocative trumpet, and the mesmerizing background provided that results in some stunning music.

I received a download to review from a publicist. Here is "Teardrop" from Big Vicious.

Avishai Cohen's Superb Triveni II

This writer missed Introducing Triveni, trumpeter Avishai Cohen’s first trio album with bassist Omer Avital and drummer Nasheet Waits. Anzic Records has issued Triveni II, recorded at the same two-day session in Brooklyn that produced the earlier album. Triveni is a Sanskrit word for “the meeting point of three sacred rivers: two physical rivers the Ganges and Yamuna, and the invisible Saraswati River,” which parallels the meeting of the three musicians. Like the earlier CD, this was recorded in one room, without separation, or without headphones that allowed the three to interact in a more natural fashion.

The music consists of originals by Cohen with interpretations of tunes by Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Don Cherry and Ornette Coleman. Cohen is hot right from the start on his Safety Land, with some fiery playing and both Avital and Waits solo in the middle of the performance.  He exhibits his wonderful ballad approach on Nov. 30, which is dedicated to his mother. Cohen mixes his bright tone and fiery passages with smears and judicious use of mutes. While on Nov. 30, his playing is in the vein of Miles Davis, on the rendition of Willow Weep For Me, and his original Get Blue, he plays in a bluesy gutbucket fashion that evokes Bubba Miley and Cootie Williams. 

There are two marvelous interpretations of Ornette Coleman compositions, the lively Music News and the swinging Follow the Sound. One of these tunes was not previously recorded and Coleman taught it to Cohen in Cohen’s apartment. Other tunes here come from the pens of Charles Mingus and Don Cherry (the closing Art Deco which is an alternate take of a performance on the earlier disc). 

Cohen’s brilliant playing is so well supported throughout and the interplay between him, Avital and Waits stands out as much as their individual contributions, resulting in the imaginative and terrific playing that make Triveni II the superlative recording and one of the finest recent recordings I have heard.

I received a review copy from a publicist. Here is Avishai Cohen and Triveni at WBGO-FM.