This virtuoso Israeli bassist – who appears at Ronnie Scott’s this week – is one of jazz’s most compelling voices. ‘Continu’ draws from Middle Eastern folk, jazz and classical influences (much of the album is through-composed) and is driven by Cohen’s sinuous bass playing and his ear for a catchy hook. It recalls a rootsier EST but, where the Swedish trio can sound artfully constructed, the intuitive, additive-free interplay between Cohen, Sam Barsh (piano), Mark Guiliana (drums) and Amos Hoffman (oud) sounds unforced, soulful and totally organic.
