Track Listing

1. Nu Nu
2. Elli
3. One for Mark
4. Ani Maamin
5. Samuel
6. Emotional Storm
7. Calm
8. Arava
9. Smash
10. Continuo

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31971 in Music
• Released on: 2006-05-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .16 pounds

Album Description
Bassist/composer Avishai Cohen, a jazz visionary of global proportions -DownBeat, and one of the 100 Most Influential Bass Players of the 20th Century -Bass Player Magazine, offers to the world his spectacularly beautiful new recording, Continuo, a project that gloriously combines the influences of classical and Middle Eastern music. These elements together produced the combination of sounds I was looking for, and created a nice balance between composed and improvised music, says Cohen. Continuo (the follow up to the critically acclaimed At Home) displays the magic of a working band, which in this music is stronger than any concept, says Cohen. He continued, I'm very grateful to have two young masters (pianist Sam Barsh and drummer Mark Guiliana) of their instruments with me to convey that they are young in their ever thirsty minds for more information, and old enough in their souls to emotionally express themselves on a very high level through the compositions. The trio, a crackerjack unit that has been on the road for the last two and a half years, welcomed into the fold a long-time collaborator of Cohen's, fellow Israeli Amos Hoffman, who contributed his singular oud playing to several tracks. Avishai explains, a lot of the new material on Continuo has a through-composed, classical music-like nature to it, as well as open sections for solos. In addition to that, there are strong Middle Eastern influences in some parts of the compositions. Contemplating the material for the album, I realized I wanted an additional color added to the trio in order to enhance those influences. There was only one man for the job, Amos Hoffman. I'm excited and proud to offer you some moments of my life once again, reflected through the music, says Cohen.

Customer Reviews

First review not fair to artist
I'm writing this review because I feel that S. Crabb's opinion is unjustified. Avishai Cohen is a great composer who tends to use vamps and grooves more often than the typical acoustic jazz musician but certainly not as often as Crabb conveyed in his review. The album hardly feels monotonous or repetitive.

His compositions have a poetic simplicity and creative elegance that is lacking in a lot of modern jazz music. As a bass player, Cohen makes no effort to overshadow the other members of his trio. Oudist Amos Hoffman makes several appearances on the album, adding to Cohen's trademark Middle Eastern sound.

This is certainly not Cohen's best work. Give that prize to his second solo album "Colors." It is quite clear that a larger ensemble serves as a better vehicle for his work. Continuo is a fine album worth the $11 though.

Continuo
In his latest album "Continuo," Avishai Cohen displays virtuosic bass playing and a series of filthy awesome compositions. Although I see where the reviewer who complained of over-repetiveness is coming from, I disagree. Yes, the themes in the songs are repeated, but they change each time in arrangement, tone, and resolution and every single song has quality improvisation.
Sam Barsh (piano), Mark Guiliana (drums, percussion), and Amos Hoffman (oud) all demonstrate remarkable lyricism, deft skill, and incredible musicianship in handling Cohen's twisting time signatures and powerful rhythmic phrases.
Also, the compositions in this CD have some of the most emotionally powerful (sometimes almost pump-upish, sections in any music I've ever heard. The music is always accesible and beautiful, but never at the expense of depth and integrity of composition.
Every single track on this CD is top quality. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful.
Wonderful album, my Avishai Cohen's favorite so far. All together, and each one by himself - a great pleasure, specially with the wonderful Amos Hoffman joining with his Oud.