Avishai Cohen Orchestral Evening

Double-bass / Composer

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“The virtuosic bassist unleashed his unique fusion of folk, jazz and classical … folksong simplicity, orchestral power, pop seductiveness and jazz ingenuity as the star danced with his bass within reach of the cheering, bopping crowd.”
(The Guardian)

Over the past two decades, bassist, singer, composer, Jazz visionary and innovator, Avishai Cohen, has earned his reputation as one of the greatest bass players of his time. His original compositions and arrangements reflect an expansive musical universe and embrace a vital blend of traditions, cultures, languages and styles, from Hebrew, Ladino folk songs alongside pulsating original contemporary jazz.

Following on from the hugely successful release of ‘Almah’ (Warner/Parlophone, 2013), a unique project which combined Trio with a string quartet, Avishai in recent years has taken further steps by introducing ‘An Evening with Avishai Cohen’ to the world, a live project with trio and full Orchestra, which was first presented live in 2015. April 2021 sees the release of Avishai Cohen’s first orchestral album, ‘Two Roses’ with the French label Believe /Naïve. The album was recorded during Cohen’s residency and sold-out concert with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, The National Swedish Orchestra conducted by Sweden’s own Alexander Hanson, and is the continuation of Cohen’s unique live project.

'An Evening with Avishai Cohen' at the Paris Philharmonie (teaser) © Avishai Cohen

An Evening with Avishai Cohen features his dynamic core Trio of double bass, drums and piano, while the sophisticated, legitimate integration of symphony orchestra lends an added dimension to Cohen’s distinctive sound. Cohen’s music is an intricate tapestry of global and historical influence.

Equally affected by the melodies of Israeli folklore, and the complexity of their Sephardi, Ashkenazi or Yemeni heritages, he reintroduced the traditional Ladino “Morenika,” as well as popular tunes from his native country, such as “Two Roses”, which lends its title to this album. The programme also includes settings of Cohen’s own contemporary jazz and world music compositions and favoured hit songs such as “Seven Seas” and “Song For My Brother” as well as orchestrated traditional Hebrew and Ladino songs like “Puncha Puncha” and other original classical writings and arrangements. Many of his own “classics” take their cues from North Africa, the Middle East, Slavic countries and Russia. The result is an exhilarating musical experience, intimate yet high impact selling out some of the world’s most prestigious halls.

Premiered in Malmö with the Malmö Symfoniorkester in September 2015, Cohen has taken the project to Paris (Philharmonie de Paris), Lyon (Orchestre national de Lyon), Monaco (Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo), Musikverein (Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich), Wiener Konzerthaus (Brno Philharmonic Orchestra), Flagey and Ghent with the Brussels Philharmonic, London (Barbican, BBC Concert Orchestra), Lille (Orchestre National de Lille), Bordeaux (Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine), Kioi Hall Tokyo, Essen Philharmonic Hall (Essen Philharmoniker), Philharmonie Luxembourg and many others.

Polyarts represents the project ‘An Evening with Avishai Cohen’ globally.

Gallery

Avishai Cohen - Two Roses album trailer

An Evening with Avishai Cohen in Brussels © Brussels Philharmonic

Avishai Cohen Trio with the Malmö Symphony Orchestra - 'Song For My Brother' © Avishai Cohen

Avishai Cohen, an insight into his Orchestra project © Avishai Cohen

“It is not uncommon for a jazz musician to be a featured soloist with a symphony orchestra. But it was striking to witness 60 musicians all assembled to serve one acoustic bassist. Of course, in Cohen’s hands, an acoustic bass becomes a fully articulate vehicle for expression…. He has something more jazz musicians could use: an instinct for showmanship. He is a natural diva. Even before he played a note, he responded to the orchestra when it began, his eyes closed, wincing, swaying to the music.”

AllAboutJazz, July 2017

“The virtuosic bassist unleashed his unique fusion of folk, jazz and classical … folksong simplicity, orchestral power, pop seductiveness and jazz ingenuity as the star danced with his bass within reach of the cheering, bopping crowd.”

The Guardian, February 2017

“The crowd are on their feet for an encore, and Cohen obliges with a bass solo on ‘Seven Seas’ that demonstrates how, in a world where many hip young musos are busy playing furious, offbeat ostinato grooves in impossible time signatures, Cohen is still the original and best. The crowd won’t let him go, and he returns again and again and even offers to take requests.”

Jazz Wise Magazine on the Barbican performance, February 2017

“A very special evening”

Lira Magazine on the Stockholm Jazz Festival performance

“A wonderful evening filled with freedom and emotion.”

Rhein-Neckar Zeitung on the Heidelberg Classical Festival performance

“Seldom has one heard such an intensive concert sprinkling all genre borders like this… a master of integration…”

(Rhein Main Presse)

“Avishai Cohen…has carved an enviable reputation as one of the most passionately intelligent and powerful jazz bassists on the planet today.”

(Bass Guitar Magazine)

“…his playing remains as jaw dropping as ever.”

(Downbeat)

“This evening will forever stay in the history of the Festival… seldom has the sold-out Stadthalle known such enthusiasm.”

(Rhein-Neckar Zeitung, Heidelberg Classical Festival, March 2015)

“Bold sounds come from a medley of Arabic themes and gives the Jazz trio a demanding rhythm, whilst playing a vigorous game with the strings of the Orchestra.”

(Darmstädter Echo, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, March 2015)