Immediate thoughts: the album is too short, a classic fan complaint perhaps. All the Israeli bass star’s own tunes apart from ‘Smile’ the Charlie Chapin co-write at the end. ‘Almah Sleeping’ might be a variation on the title track of his last album Almah, surely there must be some link given the title.
Cohen doesn’t sing (probably a good thing), and as for the new drummer Daniel Dor is a little overpowering in some small places but he’s worth hearing and has a strong personality and if you’re a Phronesis fan you must have this record.
I heard the trio, billed that night as the New Trio, at Ronnie Scott’s last year and live they are smoking, this studio album representation, recorded in Sweden three months after that Ronnie’s gig, probably more subtle than the live show but each player still gives 100 per cent. Returning to the subject of Phronesis for a minute, Phronesis were heavily influenced by Cohen and now he and his trio are sounding like Jasper, Anton and the Neamester. Has Avishai become his own tribute act? More seriously, AC has his own sound so completely that perhaps he does not have to strive to be an innovator any more because he so obviously is one and such a great writer. It would be good if he could stick with the same piano player and drummer for a long time. Maybe this will happen organically and Dor will stay. He seems right in a number of ways. Cohen has already done a good deal of work with Nitai Hershkovits the pianist here so let’s see if there is stability all round at least in terms of studio work as a complete unit. Favourite tracks: ‘C♯’ and the serene ‘Ballad for an Unborn.’ But nearly everything is worth hearing. Now that really is a fan talking. SG
The New York Division, which is the New Trio plus guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, trumpeter Diego Urcola, and trombonist Steve Davis, will play the Barbican, London in July