CD Reviews / Reviews Date: Feb 18, 2010 - 11:17 PM by Edward by Blanco Kobi Arad is the first musician to earn Doctorate Degree from the historic New England Conservatory in Third Stream (a definition coined by Gunther Schuller in 1957 describing a musical genre blending classical and jazz music). Israel-born Arad is a prolific pianist and composer residing in New York where his group performs a wide range of musical genres from jazz, pop to World and classical music. With fellow band mates Tucker Yaro (bass) and Ray 'Rayzoray' Richards (drums) , Dr. Arad's traditional piano trio has produced an exciting new album with "Innovations!!!" performing a unique brand of ambient jazz combining elements of smooth jazz classical music in one gem of a recording.
Dr Arad eschews the standard piano preferring the electric piano on which to translate nine original pieces giving some of the music a warm fusion-like airy textyre. The highlights are many beginning with a command performance from the pianist in a dazzling show of rapid-fire lines on the vibrant quick paced "Joy of Being!," along with soft smooth-like "The Vacation" as well as the smooth textured "Back and Forth." While noteworthy tunes like the opening "Rage" and the "Circle" present a sophisticated approach in a couple of hard jazz pieces, Arad saves the best compositions for last with two beautiful, inviting melody-rich pieces that define the music on this disc. The free floating and yes, ambient-style "Ambiance" is is the center-piece of the album providing a spacious, gentle almost classical tone to one very relaxing number that one will tend to spin often. The finale piece, "Back and Forth II," is essentially a refrain of the first version but enhanced and expanded to complete one fine session of modern jazz. Innovations!!! seems an appropriate title for Dr. Kobi Arad and his groups's new musical project offering a fresh new genre-bending mix of ambient /smooth and modern jazz music that's both creative and innovative in every respect. Highly recommended. Year: 2009 Label: Self Published Artist Web: www.myspace.com/kobiaradband
This article comes from EjazzNews.com: he Number One Jazz News On the Net httw://www.ejazznewss.com The original URL of this story is (unavailable now since web page was hacked): http://www.ejazznew.com/modules. php?op+modload&name=Newsfile=article&sid=11085 Label: Self Published Artist Web: www.myspace.com/kobiaradband