Avishai Cohen (trumpeter)

This article is about the trumpeter. For the bassist with the same name, see Avishai Cohen (bassist).

Avishai Cohen
Cohen with the SFJAZZ Collective in 2015
Background information
Born	(1978-05-23) May 23, 1978 (age 46) Tel Aviv, Israel
Genres	Jazz, post-bop, bebop
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, bandleader
Instrument	Trumpet
Labels	ECM, Anzic, Fresh Sound
Website	avishaicohenmusic.com
Relatives	Anat Cohen, Yuval Cohen [1]

Avishai Cohen (Hebrew: אבישי כהן) is a New York City–based jazz musician and composer originally from Tel Aviv, Israel.

Biography

Avishai Cohen at Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay CA 9/10/17

Cohen was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. He grew up in a musical family with his saxophonist siblings: sister Anat Cohen and brother Yuval Cohen (soprano saxophone).^[1] At the age of eight Avishai asked his mother if he could begin taking trumpet lessons.^[1] At age ten, Avishai began playing with the Rimon Big Band, He recalls, "I had a box I stood on."^[1] As a teenager Avishai toured with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra.^[1]

Avishai Cohen attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston.^[2]

After graduating from Berklee, Cohen went on to win 3rd place in the Thelonious Monk jazz trumpet competition in 1997.^[3]

Cohen then moved to New York City, where he began developing his music alongside Jason Lindner and bassist Omer Avital at Smalls Jazz Club.^[3]

Because he was frequently confused with bassist Avishai Cohen, he named his debut 2003 album The Trumpet Player.^[4]

He has played with several jazz groups that include musicians from the SFJAZZ Collective. Cohen has stated that he was very heavily influenced by Miles Davis.^[3]

Discography

Avishai Cohen performing at WOMEX 15, Budapest

As leader

• The Trumpet Player (Fresh Sound, 2003) – recorded in 2001
• After the Big Rain (Anzic, 2007) – recorded in 2006
• Flood (Anzic, 2008)
• Seven (Anzic, 2008)
• Introducing Triveni (Anzic, 2010)
• Triveni II (Anzic, 2012) – recorded in 2009
• Avishai Cohen's Triveni, Dark Nights (Anzic, 2014) – recorded in 2013
• Into the Silence (ECM, 2016) – recorded in 2015
• Cross My Palm with Silver (ECM, 2017) – recorded in 2016
• Playing the Room with Yonathan Avishai (ECM, 2019) – recorded in 2018
• Big Vicious (ECM, 2020) – recorded in 2019
• Naked Truth (ECM, 2022) – recorded in 2021
• Ashes to Gold (ECM, 2024) – recorded in 2023

As group

SFJAZZ Collective

• Live 2010: 7th Annual Concert Tour (SFJAZZ, 2010)[3CD]
• Live in New York 2011 - Season 8 - The Music of Stevie Wonder (SFJAZZ, 2011)[3CD]
• Live: SFJAZZ Center 2013 - The Music of Chick Corea (SFJAZZ, 2013)[2CD]
• Live: SFJAZZ Center 2014 - The Music of Joe Henderson (SFJAZZ, 2014)[2CD]
• 10th Anniversary: Best of - Live at the SFJAZZ Center 2013 (SFJAZZ, 2014)

Third World Love

• Third World Love Songs (Fresh Sound, 2002)
• Avanim (self-released, 2004) – also released from NMC Music
• Sketch of Tel Aviv (self-released, 2006) – also released from Smalls
• New Blues (Anzic, 2008)
• Songs and Portraits (Anzic, 2012)

3 Cohens
With Anat Cohen and Yuval Cohen

• One (Self, 2003)
• Braid (Anzic, 2007)
• Family (Anzic, 2011)
• Tightrope (Anzic, 2013)

Omer Avital

• Marlon Browden Project (Fresh Sound, 2003)
• The Ancient Art of Giving (Smalls, 2006)
• Arrival (Fresh Sound, 2007)
• Free Forever (Smalls, 2011)
• Live at Smalls (SmallsLIVE, 2011)
• Suite of the East (Anzic, 2012)
• New Song (Motéma, 2014)

As sideman

With Keren Ann

• Nolita (Metro Blue/Blue Note, 2005)
• Keren Ann (EMI, 2007)

With Anat Cohen

• Place & Time (Anzic, 2005)
• Noir (Anzic, 2006)

With others

• Jason Lindner Big Band, Live at the Jazz Gallery (Anzic, 2007) – live
• Gregory Tardy, Monuments (SteepleChase, 2011)
• Mark Turner, Lathe of Heaven (ECM, 2014) – recorded in 2013

References

1. Leichman, Abigail Klein. "One family, three world-class jazz musicians". Retrieved August 17, 2011.
2. Collar, Matt. "Avishai Cohen". Retrieved March 11, 2011.
3. Deluke, D.J. "Avishai Cohen: Trumpet Trio Makes Strong Mark". Retrieved November 4, 2011.
4. Avishai Cohen: Introducing Triveni. NPR, February 4, 2011.

External links

• Official website