A pair of twos…
Bassist Avishai Cohen takes on the music of a different tribe than his own, delving into songs from traditional Cuban themes with Abraham Rodriguez on congas and earthy vocals and supporting singer Virginia Alves. The sound and vibe is not limited to local fare, as the three give a rural feel to James Brown’s “It’s A Man’s World” that has to be heard to be believed, and a “Fly Me To The Moon” that has a view from the Caribbean. More local dishes such as “A Bailar Mi Bomba” and “Fahina” include earthy vocals, traditional and village hand percussion and rich bass lines between the three. Sizzling like fried rice and beans.
The understated wisp of vocalist Sienna Dahlen fits well with the soft guitar strings of Bill Coon on this collections of subdued standards. Dahlen is clear and reflective on late night moods of “Too Late Now” and the calm yet intimate “All Of You”. Coon gives a bit of an edge to his intro of the surprisingly dark “Happy Talk” and is fluffy as he passes the candle on “’Round Midnight”. The two are most crystalline on “ Autumn In New York” and a velvety “Day Dream”. Casual conversations.