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'Smash' - from Continuo - RazDaz Records
Bassist/Composer / Band Leader 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 20th 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, 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' 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 Abe 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'.
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 Acuña, Paquito D'Rivera and many others. Avishai is a first call musician in multiple genres. performing concert works with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and The Boston Pops Symphony.
Razdaz Recordz
2003 was a busy year for the bassist/composer. In addition to his playing and composing activities, Cohen decided to create his own record label, preempting the course that fellow artists Dave Holland, Dave Douglas and many others have since taken. "I've always been interested in several genres of music, including jazz, rock, pop, classical, Latin and funk", said Cohen. "And I'm always packed with ideas, so I decided to start my own label because I'm involved in so many different projects." In addition to releasing his own recordings, Razdaz in 2006 released the debut recording of drummer Mark Guiliana's genre-busting band Heernt, 'Locked In A Basement', featuring Guiliana on drums, trombone and electronics, Zac Colwell on saxophone, flute, keyboards and electric guitar, and Neal Persiani on electric bass.
Razdaz Recordz is distributed internationally and in the US by Sunnyside/Ryko Distribution. The label released its debut CD, Avishai's Lyla in September 2003. New recordings on Razdaz Recordz include the extraordinary At Home (2005) and Continuo (2006), and now in partnership with Half Note records, As Is . . . Live at The Blue Note (CD/DVD)(2007)
Mark Guiliana - Drums
"Mark Guiliana may well be at the forefront of an exciting new style of drumming." Modern Drummer Magazine - "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 26-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. Mark has been a member of Avishai's band since 2003 and has appeared on Avishai's last three studio albums and the newly released AS IS "Live at the Blue Note". 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 - Piano
Shai Maestro, the gifted pianist born in Israel in 1987, joined the Avishai Cohen Trio as a fresh new voice in October 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.
"Shai Maestro is a phenomenon that deserves his own surname and uses his marvellous technique to create streams of emotion." - Jazz Zaragoza Spain 2006
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.
Here is what some have had to say about Avishai Cohen, his unique music, and his performances:
"He's a genius musician... a great composer with a really solid vision of the music he wants to make. Working with him has been very refreshing." - Chick Corea
"...
A transcendent example of the capacity of music... to reach beyond geographical
and political boundaries..." - Don Heckman, The Los Angeles Times
"A strong spiritual current runs through Cohen's music..." - Mike
Joyce, The Washington Post
"Cohen himself is an unforgettable sight to be seen,
this quartet played with more passion, fire, and vigor than the last ten
jazz bands I have seen combined." - Kirt Stein, Fever Pitch Magazine
"...The most exciting new bassist . . ." - The New Yorker
"A convergence of different languages into one distinct whole." - Steve
Graybow, Billboard
"In the heterodoxy of jazz, bassplayer Avishai Cohen offered a concert full of fantasy out of his prophetic and resourceful bass". - Mirian Arbalejo, XXI Festival de Jazz de Madrid
Read accolades and review from Budapest!
Read the rave reviews in All About Jazz
Read the 'Continuo' review on the BBC site
Listen to this great interview with Avishai Cohen on WBUR (Boston) - Dick Gordon's "The Connection"
Read
reviews of 'At Home' and live concerts 
See
- Print 'At Home' Press Release
For More Info and Reviews: www.avishaimusic.com