Avishai Cohen is an Israeli jazz bassist, composer, singer, and bandleader, born on April 20, 1970. He is recognized for bringing the bass to the forefront of jazz and has received global acclaim for his work, including the prestigious Miles Davis Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2023.

DownBeat magazine has described him as “a jazz visionary of global proportions,” and Bass Player magazine named him one of the 100 most influential bass players of the 20th century.

In late 2024, the French government awarded him the prestigious Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters.It is a recognition for artists, writers, or other individuals who have played an important role in the arts and literature, or in their dissemination. With this award, France recognizes Cohen’s significant cultural impact and contribution to the arts,through his music and performances.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Raised in a multicultural family with roots in Spain, Greece, and Poland, Cohen’s musical journey began at age nine with the piano. After his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, he discovered the bass guitar, inspired by the music of Jaco Pastorius. He later returned to Israel to study at the Music and Arts Academy in Jerusalem, where he switched to the upright bass. In 1992, at the age of 22, he moved to New York City to pursue his music career. His early years in New York were challenging; he performed on the streets and worked in construction to make ends meet. He also studied at the New School and performed with pianist Danilo Perez’s Trio.

Career Breakthrough and Solo Success

A significant turning point came in 1997 when he was contacted by jazz legend Chick Corea after sending him a demo tape. For over six years, Cohen was an integral part of Corea’s ensembles, which was instrumental in shaping his musicianship and as a leader.

Cohen’s solo career began to flourish with his first four albums released on Corea’s Stretch Records label, which showcased his unique blend of Mediterranean and Latin influences. In 2002, he founded his own record label, Razdaz Recordz.

Throughout his career, Cohen has released a prolific and diverse body of work, exploring various musical styles:

Adama (1998) :  an essential starting point in Avishai Cohen’s career and a milestone in modern jazz due to its successful and organic fusion of cultural influences.

Devotion (1999) : a crucial step in Avishai Cohen’s evolution, further refining his sound and confirming his status as one of the most original voices in modern jazz.

Colors (2000) :  an ambitious and vibrant masterpiece that showcases Avishai Cohen’s talent for painting with sound. It is a celebration of musical diversity and a testament to his ability to write complex arrangements for a larger band.

Unity (2001) :  a bold and experimental album that showcases Avishai Cohen’s vision as a composer and bandleader in a new way. It is a powerful statement about both musical innovation and cultural collaboration, and it stands out within his body of work for its unique, piano-less instrumentation and the resulting sound.

Lyla (2003): His debut on Razdaz Recordz, this album reflected his multifaceted artistic personality by incorporating sounds from Latin rhythms to electronics.

At Home (2005): This album features the evocative and highly requested ballad “Remembering.” Described in Jazzwise Magazine as Cohen’s “most thoughtful and best realized” album to date. The eleven compositions on the album showcase Cohen’s talents as a composer, powerful soloist, and leader of a tight ensemble.

Continuo (2006): A Melodic Fusion of Jazz and Middle Eastern Sounds. Continuo is a powerful and coherent musical statement. The album is considered an essential work for lovers of modern jazz who are open to influences from other musical traditions.

As Is … Live at the Blue Note (2007) : a powerful and lively document, recorded in the legendary New York Jazz Club. This album is widely acclaimed as an excellent representation of his live energy. 

Gently Disturbed (2008): Gently Disturbed is widely acclaimed as a groundbreaking piano trio album that set a new standard for the genre and put the Avishai Cohen Trio on the international map as one of the most exciting jazz acts of their generation.

Sensitive Hours / Shaot Regishot (2008): This was the first album to feature Cohen vocals on all tracks and songs in Hebrew, initially achieving gold sales status in Israel.

Aurora (2009): This project incorporated the Ladino language and culture of Sephardic Jews his first album released by Blue Note.

Seven Seas (2011): The album builds on his signature fusion of jazz with influences from the Middle East, classical music, and Sephardic songs, but also explores more orchestral and vocal arrangements.

Duende (2012): A piano and double bass duo album with Nitai Hershkovits,  awards were widely given including a  German Jazz Echo Award

Almah (2013): is considered one of Avishai Cohen’s most ambitious and sophisticated projects, impressively showcasing his compositional talent and ability to transcend genres. It is an album that will appeal to lovers of both jazz and classical music.

From Darkness (2015) : From Darkness charts a path from obscurity to light. It is indeed a key step in Cohen’s long-term quest for the absolute and for purity. The art of this trio is rich and condensed; swarming with new ideas, reduced to the essential and crossed by a thousand subtly harmonized shades.

1970 (2017): is a studio album by Israeli bassist and composer.. The title refers to his year of birth. This album marks a striking and deliberate step outside his familiar jazz idiom and can be seen as his most pop-oriented project.This album highlighted his more accessible, pop-leaning influences.

Arvoles (2019): Meaning “trees” in Ladino, this trio centred album featured nine original compositions.the album is  characterized by an intimate and often nostalgic atmosphere. The compositions are a reflection of Cohen’s world and personal life in the years leading up to the release. The music is deeply rooted in jazz, but as is characteristic of Cohen, enriched with a wide range of influences.

Two Roses (2021):  An ambitious and grand live album by Israeli bassist, composer, and singer Avishai Cohen, released in 2021. It is a unique project that combines his well-known jazz trio and world music influences with the majestic sound of a full symphony orchestra. Recorded live with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted By Alexander Hansen.

Shifting Sands (2022): The album has been widely praised and seen as an energetic return to the pure essence of the jazz trio, the formation for which Cohen is best known, featuring new talent Roni Kaspi on drums and Elchin Shirinov on piano.

Iroko (2023): His 20th studio album, a Latin-inspired duo project with congero Abraham ‘Abe’ Rodriguez Jr. An authentic, warm, and infectious album, on which Avishai Cohen showcases his versatility and pays tribute to the music that shaped his early career in New York City during the 90’s.

Brightlight (2024): This eclectic album features his core trio and special guests, blending original compositions with jazz and classical arrangements. An album on which Avishai Cohen confirms his status as one of the leading figures in contemporary jazz, both by drawing on the strength of his trio and by exploring new musical paths.