AVISHAI COHEN & THE INTERNAT'L VAMP BAND
Unity (Stretch/Concord)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Wordless jazz with a message? Actually, yes. Avishai Cohen, an Israeli bassist and bandleader, has the kind of chops that have allowed him to play with the likes of Roy Hargrove, Leon Parker, Joshua Redman and Wynton Marsalis before being snagged as a permanent member of Chick Corea's band. Just one of the fascinating things about this album is the fact that Cohen isn't playing bass. He leaves that in the capable hands of Yagil Baras. For Unity, Cohen returns to his first instrument, the piano, which he learned to play as a teenager in Israel. Perhaps four years of watching Corea at work has had an effect on Cohen, or maybe he was extremely good on piano to begin with. Either way, he performs with the wisdom of an old piano vet, caressing the keys when subtlety is in order, riding them furiously when need be. A lot of understanding developed quite quickly when you consider that Cohen is just 31 years old and has spent most of his time and energy on the bass.

Unity is, according to the liner notes, an attempt to join the people of the world through the one universal language: music. Cohen's bandmates represent four nations, adding both gravity to the title of the album and a variety of musical flavors. Drummer Antonio Sanchez is from Mexico, Diego Urcola (trumpet and flugelhorn) is from Argentina and Yosvany Terry (alto sax) hails from Cuba, so there is not just a Latin component, but layers of Latin components, each coming from different musical heritages, all blending with highly satisfying results. Add that blend with Cohen, Baras and their countryman and trombonist, Avi Lebovich, and you have the absolutely unique sound of The International Vamp Band.

Their music is mostly mid-tempo and dreamy, often downright mesmerizing, but not in the way "smooth jazz" is mesmerizing. While you're mesmerized, you're encouraged to contemplate. Things are happening on every instrument. There is also a "wow" moment when Cohen performs a one minute song, "Pause," solo. In that short time he manages to display piano chops from subtle jazz chording to flight-of-the-bumblebee fast classical magic. It's really the only time Cohen can be accused of showing off. The rest of his time is spent supporting his compositions, and in the end he's earned the right to add "/pianist" to "bassist" in his resume. As for "composer," there can be no doubt. These are fine pieces. Whether or not they can unite the people of the world, bring about a just society and peace... well, wouldn't it be nice if the world worked that way? As long as there are so many angry people in the world, it'll continue to spin cockeyed. If, somehow, they could all listen to this, and other music this soothing to the soul, maybe they'd lighten up a little. Maybe.

© 2002 - DJ Johnson