A most impressive debut for ECM, and one hopes the beginning of a long and fruitful association.
ECM 2818 / 651 6886
Yuval Cohen (soprano saxophone, melodica); Tom Oren (piano); Alon Near (double bass); Alon Benjamini (drums)
Recorded September 2023
If less well known than his trumpet playing brother Avishai, this excellent album that marks his debut on ECM should put Yuval Cohen firmly on the international radar. The third member of the Cohen family to record for ECM alongside Avishai and sister Anat, Yuval has presented an album that has a broad sonic and dynamic spectrum spread across eight original attractive compositions.
Coming from a classical background, this side of Yuval’s musical training is heard throughout the music, what marks the saxophonist out as something special is that he has a highly individual sound on the soprano, his playing in the upper register cuts through with clarity and purity, yet Yuval is still able to colour his tone when required. This gives that overall undefinable quality that just when you think you have a grasp on the music it becomes something else.
The musicians assembled have been playing together for some time and this is immediately discernible in the music. So much so, that while there are clearly defined solos it how the quartet treat the compositions as an ensemble that is impressive, and one is often lost in the sound of the group and how they accompany one another.
The purity in the saxophonist’s sound is heard in the most overtly classically influenced piece is to be found on the opening ‘First Meditation’, and while essentially a calm and reflective composition Tom Oren’s piano motif hints at the music will loosen and open up. This trait is also a feature of the next couple of tunes in ‘The Dance of the Nightingale’ and ‘Avia’ that the quartet turn into dynamic and excitingly explorative performances.
By contrast, the title track is stark and remains so throughout with Cohen retaining an icy tone on the straight horn. This sombre mood is also captured on the melancholy ‘The Unfolding Nature of Iris’ from the solo soprano opening statement and the delicate piano of Oren the music carefully reveals itself with again that wonderfully crystalline soprano sound.
A stunningly beautiful album from beginning to end, the emphasis on melody and lyricism that has been prevalent throughout is emphasised most emphatically on the exquisite ‘Song For Lo Am’ in which Yuval’s playing is full of expression with a superbly controlled vibrato, and the following piece for soprano and piano, For Charlie’. Dedicated to Charlie Chaplin, and with Cohen putting down his saxophone half way through and continuing on melodica, the music has a wonderfully nostalgic air to it.
A most impressive debut for ECM, and one hopes the beginning of a long and fruitful association.
