LRS Newlsetter No. 15; April 13, 2007

SAN DIEGO (Publicity Release) – The 8^th Annual San Diego Jewish Music Festival, sponsored by the Private Bank of Bank of America and presented by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture continues with the Avishai Cohen Trio on May 6 at 7:30 p.m. Israel-born bassist/composer Avishai Cohen has been declared a “jazz visionary of global proportions” by DownBeat and “one of the 100 most influential bass players of the 20^th century by Bass Player Magazine. Others members of the Trio are drummer Mark Guiliana and pianist Shai Maestro. A discussion with Avishai Cohen and Claudia Russell, Jazz 88 Program Director, will follow the concert.

Cohen’s music reflects his life experiences by combining the glorious influences of classical and Middle Eastern Music – fusing the two worlds of East and West. He is renowned around the world as an influential double bassist and profound composer, and has received a deluge of critical praise for his recent recordings and live performances.

Cohen was one of the first Israel-born jazz musicians to make a splash in the U.S. In 1996, he became a founding member of the legendary Chick Corea’s new sextet, “Origin.” Until late in 2003, Cohen was a member of the Chick Corea New Trio and accompanist to other jazz note-worthies, including Bobby McFerrin, Roy Hargrove, Herbie Hancock, and many others. Cohen made a studio recording with pop-soul artist Alicia Keyes, and has also performed concert works with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and The Boston Pops.

In addition to his playing and composing activities, in 2003 Cohen decided to create his own record label, Razdaz Recordz. “I’ve always been interested in several genres of music, including jazz, rock, pop, classical, Latin and funk, said Cohen. “And I’m always packed with ideas, so I decided to start my own label because I’m involved in so many different projects.” In February of 2005, Cohen’s label, Razdaz Recordz released At Home, an album that was arguably his most compelling and striking recording to date. That is until the artist conceived of and recorded his newest CD, the spectacularly beautiful Continuo.

Joining Cohen are drummer Mark Guiliana and pianist Shai Maestro. New Jersey native Guiliana discovered his passion and natural talent for drumming at age 15 when he began studying with the great Joe Bergamini. After spending his high school years getting involved in every musical environment he could find, he attended William Paterson University in New Jersey, where he studied under jazz greats such as John Riley and Kevin Norton. Guiliana has been a member of Cohen’s band since 2003 and has appeared on his last three studio albums and the soon to be released “Live at the Blue Note.”

Pianist Shai Maestro, born in Israel in 1987, joined the Avishai Cohen Trio in 2006. His first exposure to jazz was at the age of 8, listening to Oscar Peterson’s “Gershwin Songbook.” While on a concert tour in the U.S. he auditioned and won a full tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music. Maestro was first exposed to Avishai Cohen’s music in a concert of the Chick Corea Trio in Sweden. Cohen’s music had and still has a huge influence on his musical development alongside the influences of Bach, Chopin, Beethoven, Keith Jarrett, Miles Davis, and Chick Corea, among others.