Anat Cohen & The Anzic Orchestra - Noir

Anat Cohen & The Anzic Orchestra - Noir

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I haven't seen any mention of Anzic records around here, I'm sure I'm not the only person checking out this record label and it's artists. I'd been hearing the names; Anat Cohen, Joel Frahm, Manuel Valera, & Avashai Cohen (trpt) in various Jazz & audiophile mags so when I saw a used copy of the Waverly Seven - 'Yo Bobby' I gave it a shot. The band consists of the above mentioned players & friends. A double disc that I'd rate a solid 4 star effort that could've been a 5 if they trimmed it down to one disc. Anyhow, I dig this one a lot, a true good-time Jazz record. From there I picked up Manuel Valera (piano) - 'Vientos' featuring Anat & Frahm amongst others, another very fine recording, reminds me of Corea's Origin band, except much better! Is the term 'Young Lions' still used? These guys are ROARING young lions lemmetellya!

Which brings me to 'Noir'. Simply put, this is music of the highest caliber. It warms my heart to know that work of this level is being created in these trying times. Anat Cohen is amazing on tenor & alto, but IMHO her true virtuosity shows when she picks up her clarinet, damn, this gal can play! The record actually is a collaboration between her and long-time friend Oded Lev-Ari who arranges & conducts the Orchestra. His arrangements have to be heard to be believed! Beautiful, sharp, intelligent, & deep in the pocket of whatever form of music they decide to tackle. Straight-Ahead, Ballads, Samba, Choro....everything played with the utmost authenticity, fearlessness, and maturity. Anat especially plays with a wisdom that belies her youth (the photo of her & Oded shows them to be youngsters, barely a wrinkle to be seen anywhere on their faces;). Excellent liner notes by Dan Morgenstern. Here's the line-up

Ted Nash - Alto & Soprano saxes
Billy Drewes - Tenor & Clarinet
Scott Robinson - Baritone Sax & Bass Clarinet
Frank Greene - Trumpet * Flugelhorn
Tanya Darby - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Avashai Cohen -Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Deborah West - Trombone
Yonatan Voltzok - Trombone
Guillermo Monteiro - Guitars
Barak Mori - Bass
Ali Jackson Jr. - Drums (5 trks)
Antonio Sanchez - Drums (4 trks)
Duduka Da Fonseca - Drums & Percussion
Ze Mauricio - Percussion
Erik Friedlander - Cello
Robert Burkhart - Cello
Greg Hefferman - Cello
Yuvai Cohen - Soprano Sax

Beautifully recorded. This record is a must-have for any Jazz fan or anyone that considers themself a music-lover! Anzic Records is a label to watch and quickly becoming a playa if yaknowadI'msayin'. I got 'Noir' yesterday and I'm waiting for another to arrive; Anat Cohen - 'Poetica'. I've become a huge fan in a very short period of time. Finding recordings like this is what it's all about!!