REVIEW: Avishai Cohen and Abraham Rodriguez Jr., 'Iroko'

Avishai Cohen and Abraham Rodriguez Jr., Iroko

Iroko is a hardwood tree that grows in the tropics of Africa. According to the belief of the Yoruba people (who come from southwestern Nigeria and adjacent areas of Benin and Togo), the Iroko tree is inhabited by a spirit known as the Iroko-man. The spirit is said to cause the insanity and death of those who dare confront it. It is believed that those who try to chop down the Iroko will suffer severe misfortune unless they offer a prayer for protection afterward.

On May 5, Israel-based bassist-singer Avishai Cohen and New York Latin jazz musician Abraham “Abe” Rodriguez Jr. unveiled their latest musical collaboration, a 14-track album entitled after the sacred tree. The project, which has been three decades in the making, is rooted in Afro-Caribbean music and represents the culmination of the duo's longstanding partnership. 

Co-produced by Cohen and Latin Grammy Award-winner Javier Limón, the project began taking shape when Cohen arrived in New York during the early 1990s and crossed paths with Rodríguez while performing at intimate venues across the city. From there, the pair embarked on an exploration of a wide range of Afro-Caribbean genres, drawing from their combined expertise in jazz fusion, Afro-Latin jazz, traditional folk music, and other musical styles. For Cohen, Iroko represents the granting of “a long-time dream [he has had] since knowing and playing with Abraham Rodriguez Jr.” whom he describes as “a great, unique singer, congero and master of Afro Caribbean music in its full spectrum.” 

Iroko delivers a vibrant and hypnotic listening experience, featuring a Yoruba chant titled "The Healer" that sets the tone with its stirring voices, propelling bass strokes, and vibrating percussions. This album draws inspiration from Afro-Caribbean-derived music such as jazz, bomba, plena and guaguancó, all cohered by a continuous clavé rhythm. 

Iroko pays tribute to the Yoruban orishas' musical culture, and adds a unique twist with flavorful renditions of timeless classics such as Frank Sinatra and Count Basie’s "Fly Me to the Moon," the 1960 Academy Award-winner "Theme to Exodus" and James Brown and Betty Jean Newsome's "It's a Man's World." Rodriguez perhaps best summarizes the album’s optimistic ethos: “As Mongo Santamaria said, ‘Drum and chant.’ That’s what we have here. It’s universal and for everyone, young and old. Even those who are bitter will be touched and smile when they hear these songs. Those who are angry? We’ll kill them with kindness.”

Cohen is appearing at select North American festivals with his trio this summer, including the Montreal Jazz Fest, Toronto Jazz Fest, Ottawa Jazz Festival and the Festival de Jazz de Quebec. The Banda Iroko will be touring this summer in Arles and Madrid on July 13th and July 14. You can listen to Iroko here and keep up with Avishai Cohen on Instagram and Twitter. ♦

Sources

culture, musicSunstroke MagazineIrene Schrader, reviewComment