There must come a time when an artist wakes up and says: “I’m going to do a ‘with strings’ project”. Purists or the jaded might roll their eyes not another one, but you would be a brave person to second guess Avishai Cohen. The charismatic Israeli bassist and singer, an inspiration to leading UK bands Phronesis, Kairos 4tet, and a generation of progressively minded young improvisers around the world, is to debut his “with strings” concept at the Barbican in London on Tuesday 7 May. This video of ‘Russian Song there’s a link below gives you an idea of what to expect.
Cohen’s ensemble based around the trio of pianist Nitai Hershkovits, who the bassist recorded Duende for Blue Note with an album released last year, and drums of 19-year-old Ofri Nehemya (on superb form recently in London with Eli Degibri) adds the strings/wind quintet of violinist Cordelia Hagmann, viola players Amit Landau and Noam Haimovitz Weinschel, cellist Yael Shapira, and oboist Yoram Lachish.
Expect arrangements of Israeli love songs, and music by Mordechai Ze’ira, with Ladino songs, as is often the case at Cohen concerts, a feature, and extracts from Avishai’s ‘Concerto.’
Avishai Cohen above
‘Russian song’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mlncsn-r10Q