Avishai Cohen Trio Friday August 10, 8.30pm - Hawk's Well Theatre
Adm €25 Tickets available online from 22 June. Click here to purchase
“ ... one of the most gifted bassists of his generation is finding his own voice as a composer.” - The New Yorker
“ .. one of the best double-bassists in the world.” - Kerstan Mackness, Time Out London
“ . . . a transcendent example of the capacity of music . . . to reach beyond geographical and political boundaries . . .” Don Heckman, The Los Angeles Times
Avishai Cohen's discography as a leader: Adama (1998), Devotion (1999), Colors (2000), Unity (2001), Lyla (2003), At Home (2005), Continuo (2006), As Is . . . Live at The Blue Note (2007)
Bassist/Composer Avishai Cohen, born April 20, 1970 in Israel , is 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 20 th Century by Bass Player Magazine . Cohen is not only renowned around the world as an influential double bassist and profound composer, but also as a visionary bandleader that is following in the footsteps of Mingus, Dave Holland, Jaco Pastorius, Ray Brown, Charlie Haden, Stanley Clarke, and even Sting. In fact, every move Avishai Cohen makes routinely causes waves of critical praise.
In February of 2005 Cohen's own Razdaz Recordz released At Home, an album that at the time was arguably his most compelling and striking new recording to date. That is until the artist conceived of, and recorded his newest studio CD, the spectacularly beautiful, Continuo . With the 2007 release of As Is . . . Live at The Blue Note (CD/DVD), for the first time ever, audiences can now revel in the groove, melody, power, excitement and beauty of an Avishai Cohen performance at home, and repeatedly.
The magic and strength of a working band, “which in this music is stronger than any concept,” says Cohen, is one of the key ingredients on this live CD/DVD. The trio of Avishai, Sam Barsh and Mark Guiliana, a crackerjack unit that has been delighting audiences around the world for more than three years, grew into one of the most enjoyable and fascinating trios one can experience on the scene today. Their respect for each other, their empathetic interaction, and the pure joy and enthusiasm they share in performing music with each other, is part of what makes Cohen's music connect with listeners on many levels. As Is . . . Live At The Blue Note is the definitive and final documentation of this trio as Avishai takes the band in an exciting new direction with the arrival of the young Israeli piano virtuoso Shai Maestro, poised to take over where the brilliant Sam Barsh left off.
As Is . . . Live At The Blue Note also offers an overview of Avishai's career with highlights from his spectacular recordings: “Smash,” “Elli,” “Samuel,” “One For Mark” and “Nu Nu” are from Continuo (RazDaz, 2006), “Remembering” and “Feediop” were featured on At Home (RazDaz, 2005), “Etude” stems from the brilliantly conceived recording “Unity” (Avishai Cohen & The International Vamp Band, Stretch, 2001), and “Bass Suite #1” is a stand out track from Avishai's debut release, Adama (Stretch, 1998).
“There's no way to reduce bassist Avishai Cohen's music into tidy categories. Seamlessly blending Middle Eastern, folk, funk, fusion, and straight-ahead jazz – often on the same song – Cohen has fashioned a singular vision, and it's a joy to experience.” Jazziz
Bassist/Composer Avishai Cohen was one of the first Israel-born jazz musicians to make a big splash in the U.S. Cohen moved to New York permanently in 1992 after studying classical/jazz piano and bass in Israel , ( Music & Arts Academy and with Maestro Michael Klinghoffer) and in the United States (in St. Louis ). After attending both the New School and Mannes College of Music in New York City , Cohen performed with fellow students such as pianist Brad Mehldau. After studying with bassist Andy Gonzalez, Cohen performed in a Latin jazz band that included Abel Rodriguez and Ray Santiago. As a result of this experience, combined with his deep understanding and love of Latin Music and jazz, Cohen got the call to join pianist Danilo Perez's trio. Cohen moved on from Perez's band in 1996 to become a founding member of the legendary Chick Corea's new sextet, “Origin.”
“Shai Maestro is a phenomenon that deserves his own surname and uses his marvellous technique to create streams of emotion.” – Jazz Zaragoza Spain 2006
Until late in 2003, Avishai was a member of the Chick Corea New Trio (the bassist is prominently featured on the 10 DVD boxed set Chick Corea: Rendezvous In New York ), and accompanist to other jazz note-worthies, including Bobby McFerrin, Roy Hargrove, Herbie Hancock, Nnenna Freelon, Claudia Acuna, Paquito D'Rivera and many others. Avishai has become a first call musician in multiple genres. In 2003 he made a studio recording with pop-soul artist Alicia Keys, and has also performed concert works with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and The Boston Pops Symphony.
Mark Guiliana
Modern Drummer Magazine - “Mark Guiliana may well be at the forefront of an exciting new style of drumming." “Mark Guiliana is going to be HUGE. Watch out."-Kurt Stein, Fever Pitch Magazine . “Mark is truly one of the up-and-coming stars of today's drumming scene.”- Modern Drummer Magazine. "Drummer Mark Guiliana plays with an authority that could suit jazz or thrash." - Jazz Times
The 27-year-old New Jersey native's unique and un-compromised approach to playing the drums has earned him international acclaim both as a leader and a sideman. Mark discovered his passion and natural talent for drumming at age 15 when he began studying with the great Joe Bergamini. After spending his high school years getting involved in every musical environment he could find, ranging from local rock bands to big band swing, he decided to attend William Paterson University in New Jersey as a Jazz Studies major. This provided Mark with the chance to study under jazz greats such as John Riley and Kevin Norton, and be surrounded by inspiring and diverse music. It was at WPU where Mark began to find his own voice both as a drummer and a composer.
As an outlet for his compositions, Mark created HEERNT, his ‘experimental-garage-jazz' trio based out of New York . The band's debut record, Locked In A Basement , was released in the spring of 2006 and was met with praise from critics and musicians alike. Legendary drummer Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson) called the record “the most exuberant, dramatic, beautiful, sassy, genre-busting little outing that I've heard since I don't know when. Quite the most brilliant record you're going to hear for the foreseeable future, so I recommend immediate purchase. For drummers, its simply compulsory.” HEERNT remains Mark's main source of creative energy and is busy playing around the New York area in support of the record. “...a slick, burnin' electrofunk trio” -Time Out New York . “ . . . a great new band, whose debut, Locked In a Basement, reveals a sonic concept unlike anyone's.” –All About Jazz
Mark's most notable sideman work has come alongside world-renowned jazz bassist Avishai Cohen (of Chick Corea's Origin and New Trio). Mark has been a member of Avishai's band since 2003 and has appeared on Avishai's last three studio albums and the soon to be released "Live at the Blue Note", which will appear not only as a live record but also as a DVD. The band has performed at some of the world's most important stages including the Blue Note Jazz Club in both New York and Tokyo , the Joy of Jazz Festival in Johannesburg , South Africa , the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland , the Jerusalem Theater in Israel , Queen Elizabeth Hall, Ronnie Scott's in London , and many more. Mark has also recorded and performed with the Jazz Mandolin Project, Bobby McFerrin, Jason Lindner, Branford Marsalis, and James Williams. For more information visit www.markguiliana.com.
Shai Maestro
Shai Maestro, the gifted pianist who was born in Israel in 1987, joined the Avishai Cohen Trio as a fresh new voice in 2006. He began playing classical piano at the age of 5 with his first exposure to jazz coming at age of 8, listening to Oscar Peterson's "Gershwin Songbook". He was later accepted to the Thelma – Yellin High School of Performing Arts in Givataim where he completed his studies with honors, while simultaneously taking extended literature classes . While still a sophomore, he received a full tuition scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music's Summer Program for two consecutive years. While on a concert tour in the US , including a performance at the IAJE with the school's big-band, he auditioned at Berklee for the 4-year program and was again offered a full tuition scholarship.
Maestro was first exposed to Avishai Cohen in 1997 during a concert by the Chick Corea Trio with Gary Burton in Sweden . Avishai's music had and still has a huge influence on Maestro' s musical development alongside with the influences of Bach, Chopin, Beethoven, Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Chick Corea and many others, as well as German authors Herman Hesse and the Israeli philosopher Yishayahu Leibowitz.
Other Accolades for The Avishai Cohen Trio:
“ . . . a virtuoso streak the width of Nebraska . . .” – The Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Scene-followers on the lookout for the next young whiz with jaw-dropping chops will want to take note of pianist Shai Maestro, a kid from Jerusalem who has liquid lightning in his fingers.”
– Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
“ . . . a pulsating live album and DVD that should serve as a bracing introduction for anyone sadly unaware of his talent.” “ . . . ‘As Is' burns.” – The Boston Herald
“Cohen's latest discovery is pianist Shai Maestro, a fellow Israeli musician, who, at barely 20, is already creating a buzz among the jazz cognoscenti.” “ . . . he clearly has the potential to become a force in his own right.” ‘ . . . he plays with a combination of technical fire and sophistication rare in musicians of his age.” – The San Diego Union Tribune
“. . . post bop, to free jazz, fused with North African and Middle Eastern influences – were brilliantly performed and provided a thoughtful and comprehensive introduction to the range and passion of Shai Maetro's piano virtuosity . . .” – Sounds Of Timeless Jazz
" . . . clearly in sync, interacting with technical precision reaching across the written and improvised portions of music . . ." "A virtuosic player . . ." – Don Heckman, The Los Angeles Times
" . . . strong-toned, agile, melodic . . . a powerful bandleader.” – Ben Ratliff, The New York Times
“. . . a virtual force of nature on his instrument . . .” – Kirk Silsbee, L.A. City Beat
“. . .favored sideman of everyone from Chick Corea to Alicia Keys . . .” – The Boston Globe
“The gentle flows with melodic bounce were complemented by fast, rhythmic gallops, with Cohen singing on his bass as well as plucking with intensity and propulsive attack. . . . the house exploded at the exciting end of the set.” – Down Beat
""At Home" is an accomplishment of quiet intensity . . . " – Brett Saunders, The Denver Post
“ . . .the music is consistently riveting, but without eclipsing the ingenuity of the improvisers.”
– John Fordham, The Guardian ( UK )
www.avishaimusic.com
