1. Avishai Cohen (born 1970 in Jerusalem) is an Israeli jazz bassist, composer and arranger. He was raised by a musical family, and as a child he started playing piano. After a few years he moved to the bass guitar. Later, after playing in the army for a while, he moved to New York City. After performing some small clubs, he was noticed by Chick Corea and was given a record contract. He has performed in two of Chick Corea's bands, "Origin" and the "Chick Corea New Trio".
After having recorded "Adama" in 1997 and "Colors" three years later, Avishai decided to create his own label in 2003. The label released its debut CD, "Lyla" in September 2003. In February of 2005 Razdaz Recordz released "At Home", an album that was arguably Avishai Cohen's most compelling and striking new recording to date.
That is until the artist conceived of, and recorded his newest studio CD, the spectacularly beautiful, "Continuo". Cohen’s third recording on his label Razdaz Recordz, and his seventh as a leader, was recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden in December 2005 with Avishai's core trio of pianist/keyboardist Sam Barsh and drummer/percussionist Mark Guiliana.
New album "Gently Disturbed" released in 2008 performed by Avishai's trio. Avishai also shows more of his "Avishai Cohen & Ensemble" on their world tour.
2. Avishai E. Cohen - trumpet player, who received the Clark Terry award. He recorded under his own name, with his brother and sister as the '3 Cohens', and with 'Third World Love'. Bio excerpt from his website (http://www.avishaicohenmusic.com/):
Albums under his own name are The Trumpet Player & After the Big Rain & Triveni II
Avishai Cohen is a leading figure on the international jazz scene and one of the most sought-after players of his generation — “an assertive and accomplished trumpeter with a taste for modernism,” according to Nate Chinen of The New York Times. Though deeply rooted in the bebop and post-bop tradition, Avishai is taking jazz in new directions, making waves as an improviser, composer and bandleader. Originally from Tel Aviv, he began performing at age 10. He toured the world with the Young Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra and went on to become the trumpet player of choice for many leading jazz, rock, pop, studio and television projects. He received a full scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and in 1997 he placed third in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Trumpet Competition.
Avishai came of age as part of the fertile scene at Smalls, the storied New York jazz club, where he developed his artistic vision alongside such friends and colleagues as pianist Jason Lindner, bassist Omer Avital and vocalist Claudia Acuña. Here the imperatives of jazz tradition and innovation were not in conflict, but rather merged into one powerful creative stream. Avishai flourished in an environment where hard-driving swing, open-ended funk, Latin and Middle Eastern rhythms, complex extended forms and free improvisation converged under one roof, drawing enthusiastic audiences. All of Avishai’s diverse work, as a leader, co-leader and sideman, is informed by this broad-minded legacy, which has given jazz new vitality and relevance in the 21st century.
Avishai made his debut as a leader in 2003 with The Trumpet Player, a burning straightahead session with bassist John Sullivan (Roy Haynes), drummer Jeff Ballard (Chick Corea, Pat Metheny) and special guest Joel Frahm on tenor. His second album, After the Big Rain, is the last part of “The Big Rain Trilogy,” a series of recordings that is now nearing completion. The trilogy also includes Before the Big Rain (part one), a large-group outing, and The Big Rain (part two), a trio encounter with Yonatan Avishai on piano and Daniel Freedman on percussion. Avishai’s music is alternately moody and joyous, richly atmospheric yet beat-driven and grooving, suffused with compositional depth, inspired improvisation and a profound world-music influence. Avishai plays open and muted trumpet but also routes his horn through electronic effects that range from the dreamy to the snarling and distorted. He’s been developing these sounds over the course of the last decade. “When I play effects, I play a different instrument,” he says. “The whole concept changes.”
Avishai’s other credits range from touring with the celebrated French-American singer-songwriter Keren Ann, to sharing the stage with the great Bobby Hutcherson in the all-star San Francisco Jazz Collective. In addition, Avishai is the co-leader of Third World Love, with Omer Avital, drummer Daniel Freedman and pianist Yonatan Avishai, a group with four recordings to its credit. He also leads a funk-oriented band with bassist Me’shell Ndegeocello and drummer Adam Deitch, and continues to perform extensively with the 3 Cohens, which he formed with his sister Anat and brother Yuval, both gifted reeds players. With his incredible instrumental skill and world-spanning musical interests, Avishai, in the words of critic Ben Ratliff, “has all the power and tenacity he’s going to need.
Avishai is the chosen artist of Israel Cultural Excellence Foundation (IcExcellence) since 2004.
Song of Hope
Avishai Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All things wise and wonderful You are
In my darkest night, You brighten up the skies
A song will rise
I will sing a song of hope
Sing along
God of heaven come down
Just to know that You are near is enough
God of heaven come down, heaven come down
All things new
I can start again
Creator, God
Calling me Your friend
Sing praise, my soul
To the Maker of the skies
A song will rise
I will sing a song of hope
Sing along
God of heaven come down
Heaven come down
Just to know You and be loved is enough
God of heaven come down, heaven come down
Hallelujah, sing
Hallelujah, sing
Hallelujah, sing
These lyrics are a beautiful tribute to God, showcasing His beauty, wisdom, and ability to shine light in the darkest moments. The first two lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, declaring that God is bright, beautiful, wise, and wonderful. The following lines speak of the comfort and hope that comes from knowing God, especially during difficult times. The lyrics paint a picture of a deep relationship with God, calling Him a friend and singing praises to Him.
The chorus offers a simple, yet powerful sentiment: a desire for God to come down to earth and be close. The repetition of “Heaven come down” emphasizes the desire for a tangible experience of God’s presence. The song then builds with a declaration that in spite of life’s challenges, there is always hope in God. The final repetition of “Hallelujah, sing” encourages the listener to lift their voice in praise.
Overall, the lyrics to “Song of Hope” are a beautiful expression of faith, hope, and love for God. They offer comfort and encouragement to those who are navigating difficult times, while also celebrating the beauty and goodness of a relationship with God.
Line by Line Meaning
All things bright and beautiful You are
You embody all that is beautiful and wonderful in this world.
All things wise and wonderful You are
You possess wisdom and goodness beyond measure.
In my darkest night, You brighten up the skies
Even in my toughest moments, You bring light and positivity.
A song will rise
An outpouring of thanks and praise to You is inevitable.
I will sing a song of hope
I will express my optimism and belief in You through music.
Sing along
Join me in acknowledging the greatness of God.
God of heaven come down
I call for You to be present and make Your power and divinity known on Earth.
Heaven come down
I ask for the blessings and purity of Heaven to be felt and experienced in our world.
Just to know that You are near is enough
Simply feeling Your presence can bring me comfort and satisfaction.
All things new
You have the ability to renew and transform things in amazing ways.
I can start again
Through You, I have the opportunity to begin anew and leave the past behind.
Creator, God
I acknowledge Your power and role as the Creator of all things.
Calling me Your friend
You have shown me kindness and love, treating me as a friend.
Sing praise, my soul
I urge my inner self to express gratitude and appreciation for God.
To the Maker of the skies
I honor You, who is responsible for the creation of the heavens.
Hallelujah, sing
I rejoice in You and want to celebrate Your greatness through song.
Writer(s): Avishai Cohen
Contributed by Carson N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.