Playing The Room

Reviewed: 2019-10-26
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Cohen’s latest disc strips his ensemble to the minimum, a duo, which provides maximum focus on his specific creative resources. His trumpet sound is brilliantly brassy yet human as breath, and uncommonly capable of nuanced emotional expression. The stark duo format also highlights a special musical bond. In the open spaces between Cohen’s striking lines, Avishai adds spare, graceful asides that complete Cohen’s thoughts. It’s postmodern chamber music.
If You Like: John Faddis, Wynton Marsalis, Yelena Eckemoff, Emmet Cohen
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
1/ The Opening (4:32) – piano starts – slow tempo duet> trumpet solo> piano solo> slow duet> fade
2/ Two Lines (6:25) – piano starts> slow tempo duet> pause> slow duet> pause> slow duet slowly builds to midtempo> slows to slow tempo> fade
**3/ Crescent (8:28) – trumpet starts slow> slow duet slowly builds to midtempo, then subsides, then builds back up> spirited trumpet solo> uptempo duet> crescendo> midtempo duet> piano solo> slow duet> fade
*4/ Azalea (3:41) – piano starts strong> midtempo duet slowly builds in tempo> fade
***5/ Kofifi Blue (6:41) – trumpet starts> mellow uptempo duet with delightful interplay> piano solo> uptempo duet> trumpet solo> uptempo duet> slow fade
**6/ Dee Dee (3:28) – trumpet/piano starts together> uptempo duet with shifting melodies> pause> quick fade
*9/ Ralph’s New Blues (4:33) – piano starts> uptempo duet> bluesy piano solo> trumpet solo> uptempo duet slows to midtempo & slowly fades
*10/ Sir Duke (3:41) – piano solo starts uptempo> uptempo duet> slow fade
*11/ Shir Eres (Lullaby) (4:35) – piano starts> midtempo duet> piano solo> trumpet solo> midtempo duet> slow fade