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The 3 Cohens: Interaction

By Mike Jurkovic
April 11, 2025
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As a thriving collective, the 3 Cohens have recorded four outstanding studio albums over the first quarter of the 21st century: the self-produced One (2003), 2007's?Braid, 2011's?Family and 2013's?Tightrope, (last three released by Anzic Records, the label founded by clarinetist

Anat Cohen

clarinet
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Anat Cohen with kindred-spirit producer-collaborator

Oded Lev-Ari

producer

" data-original-title="" title="">Oded Lev-Ari). Dipping, darting, diving, the 3 Cohens have crisscrossed the global stage, bringing their joyful high-flying interplay to Brazil, New York, Europe and Australia. Searing, swerving and soaring, trumpeter Avishai Cohen's revved-up swing testament, "Shufla de Shufla" opens the first live sibling recording so tight and on the money that it is a sure bet to win party record of the year wherever awards are given.

Recorded in front of a packed post-pandemic house at Cologne's K?lner Philharmonie in June 2022, the three spirited Cohens—Avishai, Anat and soprano saxophonist

Yuval Cohen

saxophone
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Yuval Cohen—then high-dive with a "Tiger Rag" for the ages. Each solo is a playful poke in the ribs, as the

WDR Big Band

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">WDR Big Band tightens the groove on every bar.

Louis Armstrong

trumpet and vocals
1901 - 1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Louis Armstrong is smiling in heaven somewhere.

In a moment of truly animated brilliance, conductor/arranger and 4th-Cohen whiz kid Lev-Ari hurls the whole ensemble into the breach, curating a run of brilliant music-making replete with Avisahi's echoey minimalism ("Naked Truth Part 2),

Gerry Mulligan

saxophone, baritone
1927 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Mulligan's "Festive Minor 1" (taken here dancehall acapella by the three) and Lev-Ari's brooding jam-band-inspired "Thrills and Thrills 1." Led by Anat's jumpy joyful mood swings and her brothers' avid responses and complemented by a horn section hell-bent on shaking the rafters, "Footsteps and Smiles" closes Interaction with a sizzling rush of excitement not soon to be recreated.

So should one find oneself or one's partner, coworker, union sibling, sports bro or dejected congressperson in need of a party record at any time from this tense point in our overall decline onward, look no further. Interaction delivers a rousing set so in your face that it brings the whole dang party to your front door.

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Track Listing

Shufla de Shufla; Catch of the Day (For A&M); Tiger Rag; Naked Truth Pt. 2; Festive Minor; Trills & Thrills; Footsteps & Smiles.

Personnel

Anat Cohen

clarinet

Yuval Cohen

saxophone

Avishai Cohen - Trumpet

trumpet

Oded Lev-Ari

producer

WDR Big Band

band / ensemble / orchestra

Stefan Pfeifer-Galilea

saxophone

Johan Horlen

saxophone, alto

Paul Heller

saxophone, tenor

Ben Fitzpatrick

saxophone, tenor

Jens Neufang

saxophone, baritone

Andy Haderer

trumpet

Rob Bruynen

trumpet

Wim Both

trumpet

Ruud Breuls

trumpet

Raphael Klemm

trombone

Jonathan B?bel

trombone

Mattis Cederberg

trombone, bass

Andy Hunter

trombone

Billy Test

piano

John Goldsby

bass

Additional Instrumentation

Hans Dekker: drums

Album information

Title: Interaction | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Anzic Records

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Anat Cohen Concerts

Oct 4 Sat

Anat Cohen Quartetinho

Miller Theatre at Columbia University
New York, NY

Dec 13 Sat

Anat Cohen Tentet

Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
Davis, CA

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