Customer Reviews

Continuo

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There will be no strife in the world if we could all sit back and listen to the poetry of "Continuo."

I had to go to Amazon just to find Avishai Cohen, the new heavy-hitter of jazz bass and an exceptional composer.

Listen to Avishai Cohen's compositions played on his accoustic and electric basses with Sam Barch on the piano, Mark Guiliana, drums and percussion -- and get this, Amos Hoffman on the oud.

The oud, a mideastern stringed instrument, has the exotic pluck of all that is good about the world.

"Continuo," is a world of wonderful listening. Cohen's other CD in my Collection, "Colors" is another marvel.

I'm writing this review because I feel that S. Crabb's opinion is unjustified. Avishai Cohen is a great composer who tends to use vamps and grooves more often than the typical acoustic jazz musician but certainly not as often as Crabb conveyed in his review. The album hardly feels monotonous or repetitive.

His compositions have a poetic simplicity and creative elegance that is lacking in a lot of modern jazz music. As a bass player, Cohen makes no effort to overshadow the other members of his trio. Oudist Amos Hoffman makes several appearances on the album, adding to Cohen's trademark Middle Eastern sound.

This is certainly not Cohen's best work. Give that prize to his second solo album "Colors." It is quite clear that a larger ensemble serves as a better vehicle for his work. Continuo is a fine album worth the $11 though.

In his latest album "Continuo," Avishai Cohen displays virtuosic bass playing and a series of filthy awesome compositions. Although I see where the reviewer who complained of over-repetiveness is coming from, I disagree. Yes, the themes in the songs are repeated, but they change each time in arrangement, tone, and resolution and every single song has quality improvisation.
Sam Barsh (piano), Mark Guiliana (drums, percussion), and Amos Hoffman (oud) all demonstrate remarkable lyricism, deft skill, and incredible musicianship in handling Cohen's twisting time signatures and powerful rhythmic phrases.
Also, the compositions in this CD have some of the most emotionally powerful (sometimes almost pump-upish, sections in any music I've ever heard. The music is always accesible and beautiful, but never at the expense of depth and integrity of composition.
Every single track on this CD is top quality. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful album, my Avishai Cohen's favorite so far. All together, and each one by himself - a great pleasure, specially with the wonderful Amos Hoffman joining with his Oud.

'Continuo' was recorded in December 2005 in Sweden.
The compositions are a mixture of classical, jazz and Middle Eastern music and are played skillfully and with a great amount of pathos.
With Mark Guilliana on the drums, Sam Barsh on piano and Amos Hoffman on the oud (a Middle Eastern string instrument)on four of the ten tracks on this CD; and of course Avishai on the acoustic string bass.
All musicians have plenty of freedom to excel on their instruments.

Nice, melodious tunes to listen to, even though the compositions are complicated, both rhythmically as well as musically.
The CD is well recorded: all instruments are clearly audible and sound as if recorded in a concert hall with magnificent acoustic qualities.
It even sounds terrific in the car!!!

Wonderful work. Repetitive? That's like calling Phillip Glass repetitive - and missing the whole point. The arrangements are magical. The repetition is hypnotic - and the subtle and sometimes not subtle changes keep you wide awake. Can't get enough of this CD and look forward to exploring the rest of Mr Cohen's work. The middle eastern influences are magic.

Well worth it. I've been playing it non-stop for a month and bought the rest of his CDs.

This is one of the only contemporary CDs that make it to my CD after 3-4 times. It's melodic yet full of energy. The Oud plays an important part in making this something that sounds different, Middle Eastern.

This is one of my favorite CD's, and I own literally thousands of jazz, classical and rock discs. I counted FIVE songs on Continuo which I have rated with 5 stars (maximum) so far: Smash, Continuo, Arava, Calm, and Ani Maamin. In addition, I have given 4-star ratings to Nu Nu, Samuel, and Emotional Storm. And the more I listen to this disc, the more I like it, so those ratings will be going up. I feel sorry for the reviewer who gave this disc only 1 star. His limited taste is robbing him of the ability to enjoy some excellent music on this disc. And to Avishai Cohen, I say "keep up the great work!"

I have had this CD for a couple of years now, and it is still as fresh as ever. I listen to it frequently, and it has opened up a new appreciation of jazz for me. I have given copies of it to people I love, which is not something I usually do. This CD, contrary to Mr Crabb's view, is richly developed. Each song takes you on a full and satisfying journey, some working you up almost to a frenzy with fascinatingly complex interplays between the instruments. There are some very complex rhythms, and phenomenal solos on piano and bass. This music, as others have said, has that indescribable stuff of greatness and is one of my permanent favorites, like certain classical CDs that I never tire of. I would give it a ten if I could.