Avishai Cohen (trumpeter)
Avishai Cohen (Hebrew: אבישי כהן) is a New York City–based jazz musician and composer originally from Tel Aviv, Israel.
Avishai Cohen | |
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![]() Cohen with the SFJAZZ Collective in 2015 | |
Background information | |
Born | 1978 (age 41–42) Tel Aviv, Israel |
Genres | Jazz, post-bop, bebop |
Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, bandleader |
Instruments | Trumpet |
Labels | ECM, Anzic, Fresh Sound |
Associated acts | SFJAZZ Collective, Lemon Juice Quartet, Third World Love, 3 Cohens, Triveni, Tea for 3 |
Website | avishaicohenmusic |
Biography

Cohen was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. He grew up in a musical family with his saxophonist siblings: sister Anat Cohen and brother Yuval Cohen (soprano saxophone).[1] At the age of eight Avishai asked his mother if he could begin taking trumpet lessons.[1] At age ten, Avishai began playing with the Rimon Big Band, He recalls, "I had a box I stood on."[1] As a teenager Avishai toured with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra.[1]
Avishai Cohen attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston.[2] After graduating from Berklee, Cohen went on to win 3rd place in the Thelonious Monk jazz trumpet competition in 1997.[3] Cohen then moved to New York City, where he began developing his music alongside Jason Lindner and bassist Omer Avital at Smalls Jazz Club.[3] Because he was initially frequently confused with the bassist Avishai Cohen, he named his debut 2003 album The Trumpet Player.[4] He has played with several jazz groups that include musicians from the SFJAZZ Collective. Cohen has stated that he was very heavily influenced by Miles Davis.[3] He is married and has two children.[1]
Discography
As leader
- The Trumpet Player (Fresh Sound, 2003)
- After the Big Rain (Anzic, 2007)
- Flood (Anzic, 2008)
- Seven (Anzic, 2008) (digital release only)
- Introducing Triveni (Anzic, 2010)
- Triveni II (Anzic, 2012)
- Avishai Cohen's Triveni, Dark Nights (Anzic, 2014)
- Into the Silence (ECM, 2016)[5]
- Cross My Palm with Silver (ECM, 2017)
- Playing The Room with Yonathan Avishai (ECM, 2019)
Third World Love
- Songs and Portraits (Anzic, 2012)
- Sketch of Tel Aviv (Self+Small's, 2006)
- Avanim (Self, 2004)
- New Blues (Anzic, 2003)
- Third World Love Songs (Fresh Sound, 2002)
3 Cohens
- Family (Anzic, 2011)
- Braid (Anzic, 2007)
- One (Self, 2003)
- "Tightrope" (Anzic, 2013)
Omer Avital
- New Song (Motéma, 2014)
- Suite of the East (Anzic, 2012)
- Live at Smalls (SmallsLIVE, 2011)
- Free Forever (Smalls, 2011)
- Arrival (Fresh Sound, 2007)
- The Ancient Art of Giving (Smalls, 2006)
- Marlon Browden Project (Fresh Sound, 2003)
Other groups
- SFJAZZ Collective Live 2010:7th Annual Concert Tour (SFJAZZ, 2010)
- Anat Cohen Noir (Anzic, 2006)
- Anat Cohen Place & Time (Anzic, 2005)
- Yuval Cohen Freedom (Anzic, 2006)
- The Jason Lindner Big Band Live at the Jazz Gallery (Anzic, 2007)
- Waverly 7 Yo! Bobby (Anzic, 2007)
- Keren Ann Keren Ann (EMI France, 2007)
- Keren Ann Nolita (Metro Blue/Blue Note, 2005 )
- Yosvany Terry Metamorphosis (EWE+Kindred Rhythm, 2006)
- Gregory Tardy Monuments (SteepleChase, 2011)
- Mark Turner Lathe of Heaven (ECM, 2014)
- Shalom Hanoch - Erev Erev
- Asaf Amdurski - Menoim Shketim
- Assaf Amdurski - Harei At
- Daniel Freedman - Bamako By Bus
- Jason Lindner - Now Vs. Now
- Jason Lindner - Live at the Jazz Gallery
- Dafnis Prieto - Taking The Soul For a Wlak
References
- Leichman, Abigail Klein. "One family, three world-class jazz musicians". Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- Collar, Matt. "Avishai Cohen". Retrieved March 11, 2011.
- Deluke, D.J. "Avishai Cohen: Trumpet Trio Makes Strong Mark". Retrieved November 4, 2011.
- Avishai Cohen: Introducing Triveni. NPR, February 4, 2011.
- Jazz, All About. "Avishai Cohen: Into the Silence". www.allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.