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Anat Cohen: Quartetinho

By Mike Jurkovic
November 2, 2022
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As it has manifested on world stages and such noteworthy releases as Luminosa and Claroscuro (Anzic Records, 2015, 2012), Grammy-nominated clarinetist, composer & bandleader

Anat Cohen

clarinet
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Anat Cohen's deep fascination and delight with world music, especially Brazil's hot melding of South African rhythms, cajun swing, and European dance, makes Quartetinhoan irrepressible listen.

Infused and bursting with a multitude of melody left, right, and center, the charismatic Cohen takes a few steps back from her masterful tentet outing Triple Helix(Anzic, 2019) to debut her world-folk quartet Quartetinho. Parlaying each others expressive tuneful mischief, Cohen and her cohorts,

Vitor Gonçalves

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Vitor Gon?alves on piano, accordion & Rhodes, bassist

Tal Mashiach

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Tal Mashiach, along with

James Shipp

percussion
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">James Shipp covering vibes, percussion, and analog synth, weave an intimate, lyrical ballet, brimming with color and design.

Beginning with Shipp's ringing, rubato dissonance, "Baroquen Spirit" quickly establishes the rhapsodic interplay which defines Quartetinho. Cohen's bass clarinet, its tone folky, rustic and bold, first pairs with Shipp's vibes, then joins Goncalves' emotive center to create an atmosphere of joyful melancholy. It is a delicious start.

A dream weaver of the first degree, Cohen's endlessly rewarding "Palha?o" follows. A cohesive blend of vibrant solos from Cohen, Gon?alves, and Shipp, held together by Mashiach's fervent delicacy, "Palha?o" is just the first of many outstanding performances. With the whole quartet bouncing off the bai?o beats (a tightly syncopated duple meter), the next stand out, Shipp's deliriously funky take on the Brazilian standard, "Boa Tarde Povo," is wonderfully reminiscent of many of the funkier moments found in the

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock Headhunters playbook.

Built around a darkly textured, Rhodes powered 6/4, Cohen counters Shipp's exuberance with "Birdie." But Cohen's spirit and temperament make sure it is not dark for too long. Her disarmingly playful, second-line blues workout "Louisiana" features Shipp and Goncalves having a field day hopscotching each other amid Mashiach's light imbued pizzicato. A whimsical run at Brazilian native son, guitarist & composer

Egberto Gismonti

guitar
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Egberto Gismonti's energetic "Frevo" offsets yet compliments the closing, Old World introspection of "Vivi & Zaco" as Mashiach picks up his acoustic guitar, Goncalves his accordion, to create a welcoming backdrop for Cohen and Goncalves to discuss their thoughts and concerns while strolling a quiet side street in Sao Paulo. Two years in the making (as it did to everything except our broken politic, the plague of the last couple years shut the band down after their first gig in March, 2020) Quartetinhonever disappoints or deceives.

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Track Listing

Baroquen Spirit; Palha?o; BoaTardeProvo; Birdie; Canon; OBoto; The Old Guitar; Frevo; Louisiana; Going Home; Vivi & Zaco.

Personnel

Anat Cohen

clarinet

Vitor Gon?alves

piano

James Shipp

percussion

Tal Mashiach

bass

Additional Instrumentation

Vitor Goncalves: Rhodes, piano (all tracks); James Shipp: vibes, analog syntheiser (all tracks); Tal Mashiach: acoustic guitar (all tracks).

Album information

Title: Quartetinho | Year Released: 2022 | 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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