Avishai Cohen's At Home

[wordsandsounds]

I haven't really seen any press on this album and I think it may be because of the same reasons why i almost didn't pick this album up. Avishai Cohen quickly took to my ears with Chick Corea's Origin group and then his two releases under his own name on Stretch Records.

But maybe because I am just not into the styling (or they are as flat as I think they are) his next two releases were really bland and meandering recordings. However, with At Home (RazDaz/Sunnyside) he really comes back for me.

This is a really nice record. Although not as percussive as say Adama (and his reinterpetation of Madrid is interesting to compare and contrast from that album), the album has a lush feel but never a soft approach if that makes any sense. Take for instance the tracks with Annie Drummond, Yosvanny Terry, and Diego Urcola. Rather than pulling the sound of their instruments above the ensemble, they seem to always be involved even in their solos. Even when they really try and go for broke in some passages the cohesive sound is impressive to me.

Cohen's technique and sound is a marvel and the group he has assembled, a trio with a supporting cast, is one of new names for a lot of people but one that will surely cause some interest in their own right. While certainly not an album of the year or a career, At Home should garner a lot more attention then what it is getting and it is certainly better than a lot of other albums that do get advertising and a strong puch (then again we all know these problems). Hopefully this helps in creating some interest.