Customer Reviews

Poetica

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

 

 

I found out about this CD because it was one of Slate magazine's top 10 Jazz CDs for 2007. I checked it out further and found out it was also in the Top 20 Jazz CDs of 2007 in the Village Voice Poll. Then I found out the artist, Anat Cohen, won several awards last year from Downbeat Magazine and The Jazz Journalists Association, and was the first woman horn player to lead a band at the Village Vanguard. So, naturally, I was curious to hear it. When I did, I understood why Anat Cohen is one of the fastest rising stars in jazz. She has an unbelievably beautiful tone on the clarinet, an extraordinary gift for interpreting melodies, and most importantly, exquisite improvisational skills. What is most impressive about her, however, is her restraint. Though she clearly is a virtuoso in terms of technique (I know this from listening to some of her other CDs and, especially, hearing her play live since I bought "POETICA"), she never succumbs to the temptation to show off. She always serves the music. And, in the case of Poetica, it is beautiful music indeed. In fact, I think this is the best CD of its kind I've heard since Jim Hall's "Concierto". I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates that subtlety can be the soul of a musical masterpiece.

If you like the sound of a smooth clarinet played flawlessly and with depth of feeling, you will never tire of this beautiful CD. True, it's not "edgy" (for that you might prefer her CD Nior); but when you want to relax and just soak in the music, Poetica is perfect.

Anat Cohen is a wonderful artist. Poetica is a beautiful album. Jazz doesn't have to be hard to listen to and inaccessible to be great. Cohen's playing is lyrical and very easy to listen to. Check it out, and you won't be disappointed.

This is a boring CD. Some very simple improvisation on well known Israeli music with no edge. I think that categorizing it is original or jazz is misleading, because it is practically playing in clarinet the exact notes of the song with uninspiring background of other instruments. I'm very disappointed.