The Jewish Week
December 1, 2006
By George Robinson

Omer Avital: The Ancient Art of Giving (Smalls); Third World Love: Sketch of Tel Aviv (Smalls)

OK, this is going to be confusing, so follow me closely. Omer Avital is a terrific jazz bassist originally from Israel. Avishai Cohen, who plays with him, isn?t the other terrific jazz bassist from Israel, but a terrific trumpeter. Third World Love is a quartet that includes both of them and keyboard player Yonatan Avishai. Avital?s quintet, which is responsible for Ancient Art features Aaron Goldberg on piano. Got it? Mercifully, the music isn't at all confusing. Both sets feature Avital originals and he's a deft and interesting composer; these aren?t makeweights or head charts for straight blowing, but well-crafted and imaginative compositions. Third World Love is all over the place, experimenting with electronics and quasi-fusion, Latin beats and Middle Eastern harmonies. The quintet set is more satisfying, more focused, and it reminds me a lot of Gary Bartz and similar post-Coltrane voices. Through it all, Avital is a rock, a terrifically powerful and tasteful bassist.

Ratings: Ancient Art of Giving HHHH 1/2, Sketches of Tel Aviv HHH 1/2