“Live at Ornithology” is the title of Maya Cohen’s latest album and a narrative of emotion, rhyme, and ethnography. This album is Cohen’s third album and was released through the UK’s Ubuntu Records and this shows the growth of this drummer cum composer. It is informed by both New York City – the energy and ethos of a great city – and the more pastoral imagery of the East River. The outcome is a mixture of supported voice, poetic phrasing, lyrical lines and complex beats.
The project has remarkable cooperation with Jonathan Reisin on saxophone, Noah Franche on piano, and Simon Wilson on bass. Combined, it forms a smooth symbiosis of the recorded pieces interwoven with the improvised on the spot, constructing sound scores, which are charge with hope, power and truthfulness. The album was mixed and mastered by Dave Darlington who has worked with Grammy awards while recording was done by Jimmy Katz a renowned engineer.
The first single called “Fearless” was released on July 5, 2024, and became a song for women in music industry. It is in honor of the female musicians who are out there not afraid to prove themselves and ignite the world through music.
The second music released on August 2 2024 “Woman Bring Peace” is an attempt by Cohen to have a heart cry for peace in the Middle East with a back drop of this heritage.
“Live at Ornithology” alone is not only an album but an eruption of feelings, a celebration of peace as well as women. Cohen has managed to blend the noises of the city with simplicity of nature to create this album that complements today’s contemporary Jazz. Dror Cohen, who designed this album cover art, has been associated with The New Yorker before this, and this album reflects his creativity in every other aspect. Maya Cohen must be considered as going on to become a leading figure in the global jazz movement and beyond.
