The composer/saxophonist Gabriele Coen is a household name on the Italian jazz scene. He is the founder of the noted ensemble Klezroym and has recorded two masterful CDs of Jewish music for Italian labels. For his first Tzadik release he broadens both the scope of his music and his ensemble to create his most exciting and ambitious presentation to date. Full of energy, lyricism and improvisational excitement, Awakening is one of the strongest Jewish jazz CDs we have ever released, and a wonderful new addition to Radical Jewish Culture, now in its eighteenth year and going strong thanks to creative and passionate musicians like Gabriele Coen.
Gabriele Cohen: soprano and tenor saxes, clarinet
Pietro Lussu: piano
Lutte Berg: electric guitar
Marco Loddo: double bass
Luca Caponi: drums, vibes special guests:
Massimo Cohen: violin (track 5)
Benny Penazzi: cello (tracks 1,4,5,8)
Simone Haggiag: bongo, congas, daf (tracs 1,2,5,7)