On September 9, 2003, Avishai Cohen’s new record label Razdaz Recordz released its debut recording, “Lyla” (which means “night” in Hebrew), The album, a collection of music that expresses Avishai Cohen from the inside, is a creatively conceived and wonderfully eclectic recording. “Lyla” is a study in self-discovery and realization achieved through music and musical relationships, and can also be a journey of introspection for the listener.
“Lyla” reflects much of who I am as an artist. The “International Vamp Band” has been touring for two years and I wanted to document that. I also started a rock band Gadu with some young musicians who are graduates of William Paterson College. It’s creating a buzz in New York, and drummer and electronics specialist Mark Guiliana and I have been exploring a lot of new territory. I have also been working on pop tunes with a female vocalist named Lola. And, of course, to show the whole picture on the CD, I wanted to acknowledge my relationship to Chick. I have been associated with him for six years and have played hundreds of shows in his bands, so we’re very connected” says Cohen.
On “Lyla”, Cohen creates innovative compositions and structures, distinctive harmonic patterns and shades, while providing seductive rhythms and clipping dance grooves, as well as adventurously covering pop tunes such as “The Watcher” from Dr. Dre and “Come Together” from the Beatles.
Cohen plays acoustic and electric bass, piano, Wurlitzer, Fender Rhodes and even sings in the end track, the lullaby-like ballad “Simple Melody”. The album features Cohen’s “International Vamp Band” on straight ahead and rhythmically charged tunes, Mark Guiliana, drummer and electronic music producer on more pop/rock-oriented numbers, vocalists Lola and Jeff Taylor on selected tunes, and jazz great Chick Corea on the lyrical gem “Eternal Child”, for a stirring piano-bass duet.
He’s a genius musician... A great composer with a really solid vision of the music he wants to make. Working with him has been very refreshing.
Chick Corea
Cohen is gradually emerging as a consummate artist with an ability to merge a multitude of styles into a new whole; Lyla should go a long way to further cement his reputation as someone who is unafraid to go where his muse takes him.
John Kelman, Jazz Review
Avishai Cohen – Producer
Mark Guiliana and Ray Jefford – Co-Producers
Mark Mann – Booklet Photography
Mark Guiliana and Diego Urcola – CD Insert Photography
Uday Kak – Art Direction
Christopher Drukker – Design
All tracks recorded at Right Track Studios New York, NY. September 24th 2002, by Joe Feria
All other tracks have been mixed and recorded by Bernie Kirsh at Mad Dog Studios, Los Angeles, CA, February 3rd – 10th 2003, with the exception of “Ascension” and “Handsonit” mixed by Avishai Cohen, Eric Carlinsky and Mark Guiliana at BearTrack Studios, Suffern, NY, April 15th 2003
The entire recording was mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Los Angeles, CA April 28th 2003
