Avishai Cohen (trumpet,
effects, synthesizer); Uzi Ramirez (guitar); Yonatan Albalak (guitar/
bass); Aviv Cohen (drums); Ziv Ravitz (drums/ live sampling).
(Review by Chris K)
An
interesting new departure for Avishai Cohen - the trumpeter with ECM that is,
not the bass player of the same name whose 50th birthday (50 gigs in 50
countries) tour is currently in ruins. Cohen's new band, Big
Vicious, is formed from jazz or ex-jazz friends who have moved into
pop, rock, fusion or whatever. This departure ends up somewhere I can't
accurately place: it's not especially big, or vicious,
despite the twin guitar and drummer line up!
It
seems to be an attempt at their own brand of cool jazz lines overlaying
grooves, jams and trip-hop beats usually associated with the likes of
Portishead, Radiohead or Massive Attack (their Teardrop covered
here). While ethereal trumpet floats over these rock inspired beats,
there is little real improvisation, certainly less than in Andre
Canniere's Ghost Days which bears some comparison as anthemic horn over a driving foundation.
Previous
Cohen efforts for ECM, such as Into the Silence have been firmly in the jazz sphere although his most recent Playing the Room playfully covered songs from wide ranging idioms.
The
opening Honey Fountain is a spacey, stately trumpet lead over
trippy bass section, while Hidden Chamber turns up the
heat, before closing with spooky voices repeating mysterious phrases. King
Kutner sets off with over-driven guitar over driving bass riffs,
firmly in pop-rock territory, albeit with shiny trumpet on top.
A
cool run through the hackneyed old favourite Moonlight Sonata is
pretty enough, but provides no new insight. Fractals indulges
in effects and mild psychedelia - but I can't help thinking there are plenty of
other bands who've done this with more conviction over the last four decades or
so!
On
the other hand, the cover of Massive Attack's well known Teardrop does
work, retaining the charm and feel of the original, swapping breathy vocals for
clean trumpet. Things You Tell Me was another stand out
track, a lovely, folksy number, with some looser passages of blowing. The
closing number, Intent, also struck home, with portentous trumpet
over drum rolls reminiscent of King Crimson at their pompous
peak.
So,
hit or miss for Cohen's new direction? This is classy and accessible and I'm
sure will attract a new audience, which must be a good thing. It is lovingly
played and produced, and would be great live no doubt, where authentic
vehemence could emerge. I have the nagging feeling, though, that these are jazz
boys trying to bring sophistication to a party which has never really needed it
that much.
Chris K
Release
date: 27.03.2020 ECM 2680 Format : CD LP
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