The Musician Insight

L. Park: Since you started your career, you’ve released over twenty albums. Which one was the more complex to write and why?

Avishai Cohen: Interesting question. I guess the record… Well, it depends. There’s a record called Almah, which is with a chamber orchestra or a chamber configuration—which is composed of two violas, one violin, one oboe and one cello, plus the trio. And that music was very, you know, like classical through the movements written within the trio.

And that was actually the basis for writing for an orchestra, which I also did with orchestrators: my music is, in a general sense is very arranged. So in between those two records, I would say. But in some ways, everything is complex or everything is involved. It’s not like if I write a piece for trio that it’s going to be… Everything is very specific, so it’s kind of the same in that way. 

L. Park: Which artists influenced you as a musician and in what ways?

Avishai Cohen: Many artists, not only musicians have influenced me. But in terms of music, Bach was, is, and will be pretty much the greatest treasure in one person.
And then, you know, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Palmieri… I’m referencing different people here, but it all relates: everything is the same in that way. Where it’s really sincere, focused and meaningful, then the sky is the limit. I also love Rachmaninoff‘s music, and I dove into a lot of music in a very serious way in my earlier years. And now I just write out of inspiration that I’ve gotten over the years.

L. Park: Over the years, you’ve written and sung in Hebrew, English and Spanish. How do you approach songwriting differently in each language, linguistically and stylistically?

Avishai Cohen: Another good question, because it’s interesting and it is different. I deal with each language in my own fantasy way, where it’s like “oh, I love this song!”. I don’t care if it’s in Hebrew, Spanish or English. Well, Hebrew and English are like first languages for me, and Spanish came later. I always had such an admiration for artists like Eddie Palmieri or Paco de Lucia. You know, things that brought me into that language and that culture. Other than the fact that I come from a Jewish Sephardic background: my mother’s side is a Sephardic, coming from Greece via Spain hundreds of years ago.
And that heritage, the Ladino, in conjunction with the Spanish, Afro-Caribbean, and Latin influences… I have been very immersed in that culture, and that changed my compositions and my rhythm approach. 

L. Park: If you could create a project other than an album, what would it be and why?

Avishai Cohen: I love film. I would say either getting involved on the musical side or even acting. Acting is something that I’ve been wondering about: I kind of like have this feeling about it where I think I could enjoy it and learn from it. I also think that it could be helpful as an artist and as an individual. I don’t know… I feel something about acting. I’ve step my two in it a little in one of the movies that I made music for, and it left me with a good taste.

L. Park:  Is there a type of role that you would like to play?

Avishai Cohen: Not necessarily. Actually I would like to be presented with something or challenged with something rather than just saying “I would like to be the good guy or the bad guy”. No: I’d like to be challenged in that way, just like with music. You meet a great musician that has a language of their own and it’s not necessarily totally natural for you or easy. But you want to mold yourself into it and be a part of it and make it into something bigger or more interesting. So all these things have to do with the creative environment.

L. Park: How did you meet your two present collaborators?

Avishai Cohen: I always meet people because of other people, so one brings another.
I mean, I’m always looking to hear and to know about great young musicians.
Great meaning and they don’t have to be “perfect” yet… I even prefer if they’re still learning.

We’re learning all the time. I’m talking about a state where you can tell that they’re really passionate, they’re really talented but they don’t have the experience yet. That’s a great place to be and to be a part of giving them that experience, the next step or the next level or something that requires from them the whole package of being on stage and delivering and making the magic happen. When they are as talented as these guys, it’s a big party every day, every night, and every time we play, it’s great.

L. Park: Which concert memory do you still hold dear today?

Avishai Cohen: I remember some concerts we were playing with Chick Corea that were great. I remember one in particular that I played in the Victoria Jazz Festival with Chick Corea and Jeff Ballard was playing drums and Paco de Lucía was playing with us on that night. It was very memorable for me because he’s one of my idols. I admire him very much and got to play with him and to know him… that was very memorable. 

L. Park: if you could work with any artist, who would it be and why?

Avishai Cohen:  I would get together with Jaco Pastorius probably. Just to sit down and talk and get to know him and tell him how great he is. Not even to… just tell him, man, thank you. Seriously, because that’s one of the people that has influenced me so much in terms of feel. Like his being, his flavor, the way he is… It’s like how some people have such a strong sense of themselves, or of something. Their vision is so clear and so at the forefront, it inspires me so much. So from Jaco Pastorius I got such a strong influence.
I never met him, never will, unfortunately. But yeah, that would be amazing.

L. Park: Lastly, what can we expect musically from you moving forward?

Avishai Cohen: Anything. Anything and everything.

Photo © Hamed Djelou