Eternal Child

“For once,” Avishai confides, “the album title isn’t one of my own compositions”. That title, Eternal Child, was penned by the legendary Chick Corea – a figure who remains one of the most decisive, life-altering encounters of Avishai’s career. To him, the name carries a profound, soulful weight. 

“Remaining an eternal child is the lot of many artists”, he says. “Those are the lucky ones.” 

The choice became undeniable the moment he saw a photograph of himself at age four or five—the same image that now graces the album cover. The gaze is unmistakable; fifty years later, that same spark burns just as bright. “What I notice in that photo is the sense of wonder in my eyes. I was a daydreamer. I loved nature. Today, I remain fascinated by it, by music, and by everything magical. And in those child’s eyes, I can already see a zest for life, play and a hunger for curiosity.”

At the heart of this record is a youthful trio: pianist Itay Simhovich (22) and drummer Eviatar Slivnik (30). What strikes you immediately is Avishai Cohen’s evident return to jazz—a move he fully embraces and claims. “It’s the most ‘jazz’ album I’ve made to date. It wasn’t intentional, but it has everything to do with the musicians’ personalities. 

While Itay Simhovich and Eviatar Slivnik belong to a new generation, their DNA is deeply rooted in the heavy-hitting traditions of Miles Davis, the Jazz Messengers, and the trios of Bill Evans or Ahmad Jamal. Within this classic colouring, however, the continuity of Avishai’s own musical universe remains seamless and strikingly modern.

The “icing on the cake” is the presence of a second drummer, Jeff Ballard. “I wanted the choice between Jeff and Eviatar without anything being predetermined. It evolved through the studio takes. Jeff joined us on the third day. On Sliv El, the trio started with Eviatar, and we ended as a duo—Jeff on drums and me on piano. I imagined bringing both drummers together at least once, just to shake up our habits. It was also a way to remember the very beginning of my history with Jeff; after I introduced him to Chick, we used to rehearse as a duo in his Brooklyn apartment. He had a Fender Rhodes there, and that’s how I first introduced him to my compositions.”

The ten tracks on the album share a common thread: each corresponds to someone in Avishai’s circle or an intimate story… Simchover is, of course, dedicated to Itay Simhovich. The same goes for Sliv El, for Eviatar Slivnik. The ballad El Bazita is a pet name for Avishai’s partner, derived from her surname. My Brues has nothing to do with “daughters-in-law”, it’s a play on words regarding how his beloved Japanese audiences pronounce “blues,” and it’s dedicated solely to them. In Tonight, he evokes the world of Wayne Shorter and Lee Morgan within the Jazz Messengers. Mr Good Sir is dedicated to his manager, who has been by Avishai’s side for nearly 25 years. Humbly Yours is a nod to all those who project their own thoughts into the silences of a composition. Lookie is a play on words starting from “cookie,” chosen simply for the pleasure of the sound. “It’s one of the last compositions I brought to this recording. It’s a fun, groovy tune that shows how much joy we have as a trio playing together”.Eternal Child was composed by Chick Corea, heavily influenced by classical music, echoing Bach’s Fugues; it is the album’s only cover. The album concludes with Closure, an open-ended punctuation mark that feels like both a triumphant finale and a departure toward a new horizon. These ten variations are bathed in a sun-drenched jazz, revolving around Avishai Cohen’s two unbreakable fundamentals: groove and melody. 

“When Chick decided to record my band and first album, he then created his own band ‘Origin’ with a lineup which consisted of members almost entirely from my own band, it was a great compliment to me. Since then, I have recorded over 20 albums and never stopped.’Eternal Child’ reflects all of my musical endeavours and brings me to now.
I hope you enjoy.” Avishai.  

Alex Dutilh
Open Jazz