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Jazz bassist, composer, and vocalist
He is best known for his six-year collaboration with jazz legend Chick Corea and for his instrumental hit Remembering which has over 14 million streams on Spotify.
Avishai Cohen is an Israeli jazz double bassist, composer, and singer with an international career spanning over 30 years. He gained recognition as a member of Chick Corea's Origin sextet and New Trio from 1996 to 2002, then launched a successful solo career blending jazz with Middle Eastern, Ladino, and classical music. He has released 26 albums, founded his own label Razdaz Recordz in 2002, and won the 2013 Echo Jazz Award for International Bass Instrumentalist of the Year.
Cohen was born in Kibbutz Kabri in northern Israel and grew up near Jerusalem in Motza, Beit Zayit, and later Shoeva. He started playing piano at age 9, switched to bass guitar at 14 after being inspired by Jaco Pastorius, and later studied acoustic bass at the Music and Arts Academy in Jerusalem. At age 22, after serving two years in an army band, he moved to New York City where he initially performed on the streets while working in construction and studying at the New School in Greenwich Village.
Cohen has Sephardic, Greek-Jewish, and Polish-Jewish ancestry and grew up in a musical family. He often sings in Ladino, a language he connects with through his mother who sang traditional Ladino songs like Morenika around the house. After years in New York City, he moved back to Israel and currently lives there while maintaining an international touring schedule.
Won the 2013 Echo Jazz Award for International Bass Instrumentalist of the Year for his album Duende
Founded his own record label Razdaz Recordz in 2002
His instrumental composition Remembering from the 2005 album At Home has over 14 million streams on Spotify
Performed with over 25 orchestras worldwide including the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, and Philharmonie de Paris
His 2008 Hebrew-language album Sha'ot Regishot achieved gold sales status in Israel
I've always been interested in several genres of music, including jazz, rock, pop, Latin and funk. I'm always packed with ideas. I decided to start my own label because I'm involved in so many different projects.
Lyla reflects much of who I am as an artist.
Moved to New York City at age 22 after serving in an army band
Became a founding member of Chick Corea's Origin sextet
Released debut album Adama under Chick Corea's Stretch Records label
Founded his own record label Razdaz Recordz
Released At Home featuring the hit instrumental composition Remembering
Released first Hebrew-language album Sha'ot Regishot which achieved gold sales status in Israel
Served as artistic director of the Eilat International Jazz Festival until 2011
Won Echo Jazz Award for International Bass Instrumentalist of the Year for album Duende
Launched An Evening with Avishai Cohen project collaborating with over 25 orchestras worldwide
Joined French label Naïve Records as an exclusive recording artist