The ex-Chick Corea bassist Avishai Cohen will perform with his own trio at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival on August 25 and 26 at Bassline in Newtown.
Cohen, who was born in Israel on April 20, 1970, began playing the piano at age 9. At 14, he moved with his family to St Louis, USA, where he started taking an interest in jazz.
He was influenced by one of the greatest electric bassists in the history of the music, Weather Report's Jaco Pastorius, who inspired him to take up the bass guitar. In 1986 the family moved back to Israel and he studied music in Jerusalem. He did his military service playing in the army band.
Cohen moved to New York in 1992 and worked with pianist Brad Mehldau as well as with Cuban saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera, trumpeters Wynton Marsalis and Roy Hargrove and tenor sax man Joshua Redman among many others, but he really shot to prominence in 1997 when he joined Chick Corea, with whom he toured extensively.
After 12 years in New York, Cohen moved back to Israel in 2004.
Despite the present upheaval in the region, Cohen says the scene in Israel is not different to any other time.
"Israel's always got problems but we live our lives as peaceful as possible, in spite of it all."
There is no shortage of music he says. "There are some jazz gigs here, plus there are many talented musicians around. We get a fair number of visiting international artists, so there is some activity. There's a nice club in Tel Aviv that brings in artists as well as the festivals that do the same."
Cohen tours worldwide with his trio which comprises pianist Sam Barsh and drummer Mark Guiliana. They have just returned from Canada and Europe.
Besides being a superior bass player, Cohen is also a fine composer and arranger. Because of the years he spent in Israel and the exposure to Middle Eastern and Hebraic music, his own music draws on these sounds as well as Eastern music and the fusing of Western and Eastern sounds which creates a particular texture that makes his compositions compelling.
Is he interested in mixing in some South African music? "I am so exited to even think of the possibility. I usually soak up influences from different cultures especially when they are so strong, so I'm very exited and hope to be exposed to something that will move me."
Cohen sounds like he is a very honest and direct person. This side came to the fore when I asked about the other Avishai Cohen, who plays trumpet. Isn't there confusion? Who's who?
"I am the more established one and people know me by my music. I have a signature sound and he is a newcomer who enjoys my name to get attention. It is a very big problem. It's confusing, it's horrible and one of my curses in life. I have begged him to put an initial in his name, anything and he doesn't want to do that. Before he even moved to New York I told him it's going to be a problem, please consider adding a letter to your name. He just refused..."
In a concert performance Cohen the bassist/composer plays about 90% upright bass, but can switch easily between the acoustic and electric forms of the instrument.
Pastorius was his inspiration when plugged in but he also has several acoustic bassists who he considers great influences.
"I love Ray Brown, he was one of the greatest. I also love Paul Chambers and I like Jymie Merritt very much, he is one of my favourites. I also love Latin bass players. I go in many different directions. I'm not stuck on one thing."
What will South Africans hear and what should they listen for when Cohen hits the stage?
"I would like to bring them into my emotional world through the music ... and to connect through its uplifting moments.
"I would hope very much to make a connection and friendship that would lead to a possible collaboration with South African musicians."
He is experienced enough not to be upset or elated by either negative or positive aspects of his playing that he reads in the press.
"I really don't worry about it too much. Whether it's a review or a criticism or praise, I take give it limited attention.
"Usually the music really speaks for itself better than anything else. I respect whatever they write about me, but I don't make too much out of it.
"My biggest inspiration comes from people, and people's music. I get most of my inspiration for writing and arranging from melodies and music that was created a long time ago, or has proven itself to be long-lasting. Music that was crafted by cultures, by people, by different countries like traditional music, like Sephardic Jewish music from hundreds of years ago, it could be flamenco or Afro-Cuban.
"I'm talking about people's music, not a composer. Music that sustains itself. That's where I'm coming from, from that sound which you'll hear in my music."
I asked about his thoughts on Chick Corea. "A fantastic musician," he says, "an incredible bandleader to be inspired by and learn from. I've learned much from him and enjoyed his generosity and his artistic genius."
Does he listen to the two bass players who are incredibly popular today, Charlie Haden and Dave Holland?
"Yeah, once in a while I will listen to something. They're both great bass players. Charlie Haden has a unique and nice sound and so does Dave Holland.
"Although I respect both of them they are definitely not two of my favourite bass players."
What does he listen to when he's at home? "I listen to flamenco, classical music, Arabic music, Afro-Cuban music and music like that."
Having listened to his latest CD, Continuo, it seems he has taken the sand of the Sinai along with the waters that lap the shores of the Mediterranean, a taste of the east and a dose of North American jazz as well as rhythms from Brazil to make the music contemporary and improvised but with historic, almost Biblical, undertones.
South Africans will easily relate to the title track on Continuo, when it suddenly breaks into a hand-clapping rhythm with a bass ostinato which has a very African- sounding beat.
Drummers will be very interested in New Jersey drummer Mark Guiliana about whom Modern Drummer 2005 pointed out: "He may be at the forefront of an exciting new style of drumming."
In 2006 the same magazine in its featured article, "The Future Of Drumming", legendary drummers Bill Bruford, John Riley and Steve Smith noted Guiliana as an outstanding young player to watch.
Cohen's pianist Sam Barsh was born in Chicago. His versatility ranges from playing with such diverse groups as Boyz II Men, Bobby McFerrin, vibes player Dave Samuels, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and Cassandra Wilson.
Of Barsh, Wilson has said: "Sam is really cutting-edge and a very promising young pianist."
The Avishai Cohen trio, it seems, will offer more that just a normal run-of-the-mill concert. It's going to be a great gig.