Search - Avishai Cohen :: Flood

Oh, not THAT Avishai Cohen?

Greg | Brooklyn Park, Mongolia | 05/06/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First, a confession. There are two Avishai Cohens, and I thought this CD was by the other one, who is also a jazz musician, but who is best known recently for his trio featuring him on bass, plus piano and percussion. Not a trumpet to be found.



But second, hey, guess what? This is excellent. We have a word for this in Hebrew: Serendipity. OK, that's not Hebrew and neither am I, but the fact remains that this is wonderful, soulful, rich a fully realized soundtrack that conjurs just the mood I think Cohen was going for...sort of dreamy and contemplative in some places, more vivid and lively in others. There's something of an Aaron Copland vibe in Cohen's approach, or perhaps Ferde Grofe, that enables the listener to visualize scenes for the music. This ability recalls poet Gerard Manley Hopkins's notion of "inscape," a representation of the thingness of a thing in its essence--in this case, a flood.



The great thing about the CD, apart from individual acts of superior musicianship, is that it is dual-purpose. I say this to contrast to two other music purchases, The Decemberist's "The Hazards of Love," and the best of Spiro Gyra. "Hazards" is only good if listened to intently, as a concentrated experience. It makes lousy background music because it is too diverting and distracting. And Spiro Gyra cannot be listened to, just listened to, as an activity. It must be background music, because there's not enough "there, there" to keep one's interest otherwise.



"Flood" works on both levels. It is pleasant background music that would go with a range of environments, from cocktail party to intimate evening. But within that unobtrusive texture there are quiet rewards for the avid and attentive listener. Maybe it's a bit like a butterfly garden...if you feel like keeping busy, it's nice just to have the colorful wings flapping nearby prettily. But if you want to sit still and concentrate, new species of butterfly land right on your hand."