While to outward appearances the trio would seem to be the standard piano-bass-drum formula, the music they’ve created on Gently Disturbed is far from the standard jazz trio repertoire.
Featuring nine original compositions (written either by Cohen or by the trio collaboratively) including one traditional Israeli song, Gently Disturbed is an amalgamation of melody and groove, complexity and simplicity that nearly redefines the concept of jazz.
With the departure of long-time pianist Sam Barsh, Cohen has slightly reconfigured his trio with the addition of Israeli pianist Shai Maestro. Since Cohen is an accomplished pianist in his own right, and has performed on bass with such acclaimed jazz pianists as Danilo Perez, Brad Mehldau and of course Chick Corea, and because the previous keyboard players in his bands (Sam Barsh and Jason Lindner) have been exceptional, it is even more striking to note that Maestro is just reached 21 years old. Rounding out the trio is drummer the brilliant Mark Guiliana, who has been playing and touring with Cohen since 2003 and who Modern Drummer Readers Poll 2007 cited as “one of the best up-and-coming stars of today’s drumming scene.”