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Magazine I Music

The Red Sea Jazz Festival is back with its 37 th edition, chock-full of shows, concerts, and events. Star bassist Avishai Cohen, one of Israel’s greatest jazz artists, will be at the festival, performing tracks from his new album “Brightlight”. We sat down with him to discuss the new album, his musical approach, and the festival’s cultural significance / By Ariel Kars All that jazz

Avishai Cohen I Photo: Itay Kadosh

compositions. The standout pieces on this

energetic new album have got to be the title track “Brightlight” with its groovy bass solo, and a fantastic fast-tempoed “Summertime”. Summertime is a soft lullaby. Why the fast tempo? “I started playing this a few years ago and liked it. The song’s lyrics are kind of heavy, so there needs to be some lightness”, says Cohen. “It’s not like I can do “Summertime” better than Louis Armstrong or Ella Fitzgerald, but I wanted to do something original. I’ve been getting great reactions to this Afro-Caribbean rhythm”. Cohen (54) has performed at the festival many times and was even artistic director for three years. He’s been going to the festival since the 80’s. “As a young man, the festival was a revolution. It was almost magical getting to see legendary musicians on stage here in Israel. My friends and I got to see incredible music live on stage. Kudos to Danny Gottfried (pianist and one of Israel’s first jazz players – A.K.) who made the festival what it is”. “As artistic director, it was interesting discovering the managerial side of things”, he says. “The Red Sea Jazz

The Avishai Cohen Trio I Photo: @Shamrockraver

Last year the Red Sea Jazz Festival was canceled when the war broke out. But its 37 th edition will definitely be taking place this year, under the artistic direction of Yossi Fine. The program includes a rich selection of original productions, album launches, collaboration projects, and special shows. Among the artists performing this year is Avishai Cohen, one of the greatest double bassists of our time,

and one of the most internationally renowned Israeli jazz musicians, who has been performing around the world for over 25 years. Cohen is a bassist, composer, singer, and arranger who interlaces music genres, traditions, cultures, languages, and styles. With his trio - Roni Kaspi on drums and Guy Moskovich on the piano – he’ll be performing tracks from his latest album “Brightlight”, as well as earlier

22 ATMOSPHERE NOVEMBER 2024