UK Jazz News

Avishai Cohen Trio

'Brightlight' at Ronnie Scott’s, 17-19 March 2025

Avishai Cohen Trio. L-R: Guy Moskovich, Avishai Cohen, Roni Kaspi. Photo courtesy of Avishai Cohen

Double bassist/composer Avishai Cohen, one of the most celebrated jazz musicians touring the world right now, is about to hit the road again to showcase music from his new album, Brightlight, released last October on Believe.

As Cohen explains, Brightlight isn’t an entirely ‘new’ album: “I went to the studio here in Israel during the time of coronavirus with some young new musicians and recorded some music and never put it out. So when I was asked to do my next record for Believe, I said, OK, let me dig those things out and build on that.”

Four of the tracks date from 2020 and provided the basis of the album while the rest were recorded at Nilento Studio in Sweden with long-time collaborator and sound engineer, Lars Nilsson, along with his now regular trio comprised of pianist Guy Moskovich (28) and drummer Roni Kaspi (24).

Cohen is a master of weaving myriad elements and styles into his music and in this regard, Brightlight does not disappoint. It’s a joyously eclectic mix of Cohen originals, plus a few covers including one rather surprisingly upbeat take on the classic Gershwin song ‘Summertime’. Cohen laughs when I say I was somewhat taken aback on first hearing his version – the only vocal track on the album – as it trots along at quite a pace, with heavily syncopated bass and piano, punctuated by staccato-like drumming and Cohen’s now distinctive smooth vocals. “Of course it would be a surprise,” he concedes. “I would never put it out if I didn’t think I had an original and very fresh way of presenting it. It’s such an iconic song, but I came up with this groove, this ska thing a few years ago… It’s fun to play and was fun to record and to have a fresh approach to those lyrics. They’re always sung in such a serious, lullaby-like way and so I like the contrast, when lyrics and music say something different.” There’s no denying it is most definitely an unconventional take with a real grooviness to it, as Cohen says: “It’s totally about groove, my life is all about groove!”

Another standard, albeit one less frequently covered, is Jimmy van Heusen’s ‘Polka Dots and Moonbeams’. Cohen’s version is beautifully pared-back and features the gorgeously seductive sax playing of Yuval Drabkin, one of Cohen’s latest musical discoveries. Aged just 28, Drabkin is definitely one to watch, says Cohen: “Yuval is my favourite young new musician for a while now; he’s a real gift. That was the first time we recorded together.” Another notable cover is Moskovich’s arrangement of Franz Liszt’ ‘Liebestraum no 3’, something the pianist had played to Cohen during one of their rehearsals and so they spontaneously decided to record it while in Sweden.

Among the Cohen originals are two numbers named after his current protégés: ‘Drabkin’ – a very mellow sounding tune named after the aforementioned exceptionally talented sax player and ‘Roni’s Swing,’ a more uptempo number and homage to the exciting young drummer who has been playing with Cohen for four years already.

Cohen has deservedly got a reputation for discovering and championing new up-and-coming young talent, especially from his homeland. “I always surprise everybody with newcomers,” he muses. “I like to change, try different musicians for a few years.

It’s not even about what they know, but about how they feel and their energy.” He has spoken in the past about being challenged and having ‘his ass kicked in a good way’ by younger players, something that is certainly true about his current cohort. “It’s that energy thing,” he says, “not that I’m lacking energy but it’s something that has to do with the attitude of a younger person that brings something very cool to the music.”

As he reflects on being a role model, in much the same way that Chick Corea was a role model to him when he was also in his 20s, Cohen admits: “I never meant to be that [role model] but it’s part of the deal I guess.” Besides all being very young, the other common factor about these musicians is that they’re all from Israel – simply a practical thing, Cohen explains: “because I live here so I need them to be here; because I like to practice with a band – my music requires it – so my crop is Israeli. I always need good musicians and there are always good musicians to be found here.”

Coincidently it was with Corea that Cohen played his first gig at Ronnie Scott’s, the venue he has returned to again and again. “It was probably 1999,” Cohen reminisces. “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing this place since it was gangster!” he laughs.

Before Cohen and his trio arrive in London in March, they will be doing a week-long residency at the Blue Note in New York where he lived for 12 years. “It always feels like going back home, especially at the Blue Note where I’ve played for so many years.” The first time Cohen played the venue was circa 1994, with the late Roy Hargrove, Joshua Redman, Greg Hutchinson and Bruce Barth. “I was like 24, my first years in New York,” he recalls. “The people that have played there over the years are some of my great heroes.”

New York and London fans will have the opportunity to see Cohen perform with Kaspi and Moskovich as a trio, something he says, is probably his favourite playing format: “It’s so agile, it’s like a small, mean machine… because it’s got all the elements: it can sound huge, it can sound very intimate, it really depends on the musicians and the music of course but potentially it’s the best vehicle to express anything I want, given that I write my music on the piano so it’s very close to what I hear.”

However in true Cohen style, he will be shaking things up again this summer when he tours with a new quintet, featuring another young protégé, 20-year-old pianist Itay Simhovich who he first played with at Marciac. “Watch it, he’s coming!” laughs Cohen about this latest talent. He is evidently excited about the quintet: “it’s kind of fresh, so we’ve got a lot of great gigs in the summer including Jazz à Vienne in France. It’s going to be fun,” he says, “but I’m excited about every performance that we do – I just love playing, it’s a real treat.”

Avishai Cohen Trio will perform at Ronnie Scott’s, London from 17-19 March 2025

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