Avishai Cohen and Abraham Rodriguez Jr. unveil Afro-Latin cover of "Fly Me To The Moon"
Jazz bassist/composer Avishai Cohen and New York Latin jazz icon Abraham “Abe” Rodriguez Jr. have released their cover of “Fly Me To The Moon” today.
The cover, which can be heard below, stems from the duo’s forthcoming studio album Iroko. The record, which was co-produced by Cohen and Latin Grammy Award-winner Javier Limón, is slated for a May 5 release on Naïve Records. Pre-orders can be made here.
Cohen said this about the forthcoming album:
“Iroko is a long-time dream I have had since knowing and playing with Abraham Rodriguez Jr., a great, unique singer, congero and master of Afro Caribbean music in its full spectrum. [My longtime dream is] to do a Latin project with my favorite Latin musicians in New York. It starts with this concept…just me and Abe.”
Rodriguez also said:
“As Mongo Santamaria said, ‘Drum and chant.’ That’s what we have here. It’s universal, and for everyone, young and old. Even those who are bitter, when they hear these songs, will be touched and smile. Those who are angry? We’ll kill them with kindness.”
Later this month, the duo will have a residency at NYC’s Blue Note with a full seven-piece Banda Iroko lineup including Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez (drums, percussion), Yosvany Terry (saxophone, chekere), Diego Urcola (trumpet, flugelhorn), Jose Angel (bongos, vocals) and Virginia Alves (vocals). Banda Iroko will also have performances in France, Spain, and Belgium this July. Tour dates can be seen below.
Avishai Cohen and Abraham Rodriguez Jr. tour dates
April 25-30—New York, NY—Blue Note
July 13—Arles, FR—Les Suds a Arles
July 17—Lyon, FR—Les Nuits de Fourvière
July 19—Madrid, ES—Noches del Botanico
July 27—Deurne, BE—OLT Rivierenhof