Jazz breaking news: Avishai Cohen strikes out with strings
Monday, April 22, 2013
Israeli bassist, composer and singer Avishai Cohen is to perform his biggest solo UK gig to date when he premieres his ambitious With Strings group (pictured left) at London’s Barbican Hall on 7 May.
Widely regarded as one of today’s leading jazz bassists and a hugely charismatic performer, Cohen’s recent UK concerts have included headlining the Union Chapel in Islington, as well as two sold-out residencies at Ronnie Scott’s – in 2011 and 2012 – with his dazzling trio of rising stars drummer Amir Bresler and pianist Omri Mor.
Cohen’s latest live project features his current musical protégé, pianist Nitai Hershkovits (who appeared on the bassist’s most recent Blue Note album, Duende), and equally precocious young drummer Ofri Nehemya alongside a string section of Cordelia Hagmann (violin), Amit Landau (viola), Noam Haimovitz (viloa), Yael Shapira (cello/vocals) and Yoram Lachish (oboe). Having brought his yearning yet warm vocals to the fore on his debut Blue Note album, 2009’s Aurora, and showcased his expanded compositional palette on its string-led follow up, Seven Seas, the With Strings project will feature Cohen on bass and vocals on special arrangements of several Israeli love songs. These include a piece by poet Nathan Alterman and melodies from one of his favourite composers, Mordechai Ze’ira, as well as Ladino (Judaeo-Spanish) songs arranged for strings.
The concert will also feature a newly composed ‘Concerto’, which will form the centrepiece of the concert. Known for his heartfelt, often poignant melodies, and technical brilliance, this promises to be his most wide-ranging and expressive work to date.
– Mike Flynn
For more info go to www.barbican.org.uk/music