Avishai Cohen is an Israeli jazz bassist, composer, singer, and bandleader, born on April 20, 1970. He is recognized for bringing the bass to the forefront of jazz and has received global acclaim for his work, including the prestigious Miles Davis Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2023.
DownBeat magazine has described him as “a jazz visionary of global proportions,” and Bass Player magazine named him one of the 100 most influential bass players of the 20th century.
In late 2024, the French government awarded him the prestigious Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters.It is a recognition for artists, writers, or other individuals who have played an important role in the arts and literature, or in their dissemination. With this award, France recognizes Cohen’s significant cultural impact and contribution to the arts,through his music and performances.
Raised in a multicultural family with roots in Spain, Greece, and Poland, Cohen’s musical journey began at age nine with the piano. After his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, he discovered the bass guitar, inspired by the music of Jaco Pastorius. He later returned to Israel to study at the Music and Arts Academy in Jerusalem, where he switched to the upright bass. In 1992, at the age of 22, he moved to New York City to pursue his music career. His early years in New York were challenging; he performed on the streets and worked in construction to make ends meet. He also studied at the New School and performed with pianist Danilo Perez’s Trio.
A significant turning point came in 1997 when he was contacted by jazz legend Chick Corea after sending him a demo tape. For over six years, Cohen was an integral part of Corea’s ensembles, which was instrumental in shaping his musicianship and as a leader.
Cohen’s solo career began to flourish with his first four albums released on Corea’s Stretch Records label, which showcased his unique blend of Mediterranean and Latin influences. In 2002, he founded his own record label, Razdaz Recordz.
Throughout his career, Cohen has released a prolific and diverse body of work, exploring various musical styles. Cohen’s compositions have also been widely used in film and television. He composed the original score for the French hit film Le Sens de la Fête (released worldwide in 2017) – Directed by Acclaimed Duo Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache and the documentary De Terezin au Kinderblock de Birkenau (2020) directed by Chochana Boukhobza.
Avishai plays a significant role in the 2023 film “Tel Aviv – Beyrouth,” showcasing his talents not only as a musician ( composer of the original soundtrack) but also as an actor. Cohen both composed the original soundtrack for the film and made his acting debut, playing a character named Avishai.The original soundtrack was also released as a standalone album. His on-screen presence as an actor adds another layer to his multifaceted involvement in the project.
Cohen has engaged in numerous collaborations with orchestras since 2015 such as the Brussels Philharmonic, Gothenburg Symphony among many and also with the Metropole Orkest in 2025. In 2020 he collaborated with UK pop artist Gary Barlow of Take That.
In 2025, Cohen continues to foster new talent, introducing a new working trio with Itay Simhovich on piano and Eviatar Slivnik on drums, and will be touring globally performing with the Avishai Cohen Quintet and other engagements with Orchestras. His next album release is currently in the works.