AVISHAI COHEN, GOTHENBURG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, Conducted by Alexander Hanson ~ Two Roses
![[Image: R-18280375-1618353468-5444.jpeg.jpg]](https://img.discogs.com/dI30AZPYVIs9ap6Oloq5T5pmO1U=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-18280375-1618353468-5444.jpeg.jpg)
All I can say is I’m overjoyed that Mr Cohen is back on track with this absolutely gorgeous album. These are pieces he has released previously, now recorded in collaboration with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, it's quite a coup for a musician to command an entire orchestra and it works like a charm. He has a bit of a Midas touch IMHO (which the exception of the last album which didn't do it for me) and crosses over very nicely between several cultures, jazz, a decided nod to the middle east, some Afro-Caribbean rhythms and the classical realm. These are not all his compositions although most of the tracks are written by him – he’s responsible for arrangement on the majority, as well as for all the vocals, which are few.
Aside from the wonderful orchestra, he has an excellent pianist in his arsenal, one Elchin Shirinov, who is not formally schooled might I add! Either you have it or you don’t apparently – simple as that! Excellent drummer too in Mark Guiliana.
Grand, sweeping, stirring, big sounds – I guess orchestras will do that! Great to play when in need of solace, I think.
The lead track might be the grandest of the lot - a good indicator of what’s to follow … “Almah Sleeping” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0nlBicLp18
Avishai’s rendition of “Nature Boy” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO4jsu55L48
Another sung track – “Morenika” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0Wtz9aam3I
… and his “Song for My Brother” - these last two are really lovely, to my ears …
All I can say is I’m overjoyed that Mr Cohen is back on track with this absolutely gorgeous album. These are pieces he has released previously, now recorded in collaboration with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, it's quite a coup for a musician to command an entire orchestra and it works like a charm. He has a bit of a Midas touch IMHO (which the exception of the last album which didn't do it for me) and crosses over very nicely between several cultures, jazz, a decided nod to the middle east, some Afro-Caribbean rhythms and the classical realm. These are not all his compositions although most of the tracks are written by him – he’s responsible for arrangement on the majority, as well as for all the vocals, which are few.
Aside from the wonderful orchestra, he has an excellent pianist in his arsenal, one Elchin Shirinov, who is not formally schooled might I add! Either you have it or you don’t apparently – simple as that! Excellent drummer too in Mark Guiliana.
Grand, sweeping, stirring, big sounds – I guess orchestras will do that! Great to play when in need of solace, I think.
The lead track might be the grandest of the lot - a good indicator of what’s to follow … “Almah Sleeping” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0nlBicLp18
Avishai’s rendition of “Nature Boy” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO4jsu55L48
Another sung track – “Morenika” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0Wtz9aam3I
… and his “Song for My Brother” - these last two are really lovely, to my ears …
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson