Avishai Cohen & Yonathan Avishai / Germany, December 15, 2019

This release captures a precious live performance—filled with serenity and poetic beauty—recorded in December 2019 in Bremen, Germany, to mark ECM’s 50th anniversary. The two Israeli musicians share a friendship spanning over three decades; notably, Yonathan Avishai has previously contributed to Avishai Cohen’s ECM quartet albums, *Into the Silence* and *Cross My Palm with Silver*. This new release recreates the material from their debut duo album, *Playing the Room*, blending the sharp, palpable tension characteristic of the ECM sound with a relaxed performance style that highlights their intuitive, seamless rapport. The set opens with a rendition of Duke Ellington’s “Azalea”; unlike the album version, this performance expands into a magnificent nine-minute soundscape that captivates the listener. Also featured is a must-hear performance of Don Cherry’s “Art Deco”—a track not included on the original studio album. Furthermore, their take on Coltrane’s “Crescent” is a breathtaking, 14-minute-plus masterpiece that operates on a scale far beyond the studio recording. Throughout the concert, the duo’s melody-driven approach complements the signature ECM aesthetic, leaving the listener immersed in a wonderfully lingering atmosphere. Avishai Cohen’s crystalline lyricism and Yonathan Avishai’s intellectual, restrained touch respond exquisitely to one another, painting rich, evocative scenes through a minimalist use of notes. This album comes highly recommended not only to ECM fans but also to listeners who cherish lyrical jazz artists such as Tomasz Stańko, Enrico Rava, and Kenny Wheeler. Live At Sendesaal, Bremen, Germany December 15th, 2019 Disc 1 1.Azalea 2.Two Lines 3.Announcement Avishai Cohen 4.Kofifi Blue 5.Art Deco Disc 2 The Opening 2.Dee Dee 3.Crescent 4.Sir Duke 5.Announcement Yonathan Avishai 6.Shir Eres 7.Just In Time Avishai Cohen(tpt) Yonathan Avishai(p)