JOSH COHEN

WE ARE HOME

T. Sound Records

Josh Cohen, bass/composer; Mateo Mancuso, drums; Jeremy Ledbetter, piano/keyboards; Lucian Gray, guitars; Rob Christian, tenor saxophone/flute/EWI/Sound Design. SPECIAL GUEST: Elmer Ferrer, nylon & steel string guitars.

Based in Toronto, Canada, composer, bassist, author and educator Josh Cohen brings us an album called “We Are Home.”  It is meant to reflect the idea of home being a place wherever you feel completely comfortable. He shares in his press package that composition ideas begin with a melody in his mind.  He often sings that into his voice memos, then reviews them later. Next, he takes that raw idea, goes to the piano and develops the phrase into a lead sheet, then a demo, writes full scores, followed by ensemble arrangements.  Bam!  A song is born.

This album opens with “Supernueve” that was developed from a nine-measure tune that his friend and pianist, Jason Kutz wrote.  The result is a funk-fusion arrangement that borrows the bass introduction from a Chaka Khan hit record, “You Got the Love” to morph into an impressive, improvised solo on electric bass by Cohen.  It’s followed by Jeremy Ledbetter’s fluttering fingers on piano. Rob Christian adds his saxophone solo to the mix, and Mateo Mancuso presses more energy into the arrangement on his colorful trap drums. Great way to start this album!

A song called “Newborn” enters tentatively, with Ledbetter’s playing a ‘Capella to introduce the context of the original song by Cohen. When the melody is introduced, it’s lovely. I do think it needs a bridge.  I notice most of these original songs do not have one.

Cohen’s talented group of musicians breathe new life into songs like “Operation Mexi-Can” but even with their improvisational skills, it’s hard to grow the music without a bridge or an arrangement break.  These songs play like “loops” and probably are reflections of how songs come to Cohen with specific lines of melody.  Still, to grow the song I would have loved to hear the monotony broken up by a modulation or a bridge.  Something to keep this music from being so repetitious.

“Inner Embrace” is a ballad that Cohen’s press package explains he wrote during a period of professional uncertainty.  The melody is quite beautiful and this time the song develops in a sweet well-written way. Ron Christian shines on tenor saxophone. Christian plays a central role as producer and recording engineer for this album. This quickly becomes one of my favorite compositions on this project, along with “Supernueve.”

“Elevate” begins by establishing the memorable melody at a moderate tempo determined by the strong trap drum licks of Mancuso.  The arrangement is tricky.  It plays with time, changing from 4/4 to 7/4 and inserting odd bars. This time, special guest Elmer Ferrer soaks up the spotlight and brings sparkle to the tune with his awesome guitar solo that lifts this musical arrangement. Another favorite!

Cohen earned First Place in the NAMM 2020 PJB Solo Bass Competition. He has an international following that celebrates the full, creative sound on his electric bass instrument. This is Josh Cohen’s first recording as a band leader. I look forward to hearing more.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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