Adama: Cohen's First Word as a Leader
A debut that announces a bassist ready to lead, not follow, with sharp ears and restless ideas.
From the first moments, Adama moves with purpose. Avishai Cohen's double bass anchors the sound, but this isn't a rhythm section playing support — it's a conversation between equals. Jason Lindner on piano circles and probes. Steve Wilson's soprano saxophone cuts bright and angular. Steve Davis on trombone slides in with warmth, then sharpness, keeping things off-balance. Jeff Ballard behind the drums listens hard and responds with precision rather than flash. And woven through it all is the oud, played by עמוס הופמן, grounding the sound in something older and earthier than straight bebop or post-bop.
This is Cohen's debut as a bandleader, and you can hear the confidence in how he chose these musicians and what he asked them to do. The album doesn't sound like anyone else's band. It has weight and forward momentum, but also space — room for each player to breathe without the music ever feeling loose or uncertain. The tracks move between introspection and drive, never settling into comfort.
Adama matters because it introduces a bassist who thinks like a composer, who builds ensembles carefully and knows that the bass can do more than keep time. Cohen would go on to deeper work, but this debut sets the terms: inventive, focused, uninterested in formula.
Who's playing
Avishai Cohendouble bass
Jason Lindnerpiano
Steve Wilsonsoprano saxophone
Steve Davistrombone
Jeff Ballarddrums, percussion
עמוס הופמןoud
