Anat Cohen

Place & Time

Released May 2005

With her debut album Place & Time, Anat Cohen arrived on the jazz scene as a formidable talent, showcasing a rare combination of technical brilliance, emotional depth, and a global sensibility. This stunning effort highlights her supple facility on both tenor and soprano saxophones, as well as clarinet, offering a collection of compositions that are as expressive as they are adventurous.

All About Jazz praised Cohen’s remarkable artistry, stating, “How thoroughly refreshing it is to hear a young musician who really does have a sense of place and time, in the best possible ways! Saxophonist Anat Cohen imbues her tunes and her playing with an understanding of how to use space and rhythm and, having played in many countries, with a feeling for other cultures and where jazz and improvisation are in the world at this time.”

Indeed, Place & Time is more than just a strong debut—it is a statement of intent. Cohen’s deep understanding of space, phrasing, and groove allows her to craft a sound that feels both rooted in jazz tradition and dynamically contemporary. From the soulful warmth of her ballads to the fiery energy of her uptempo pieces, she displays an intuitive grasp of storytelling through improvisation. Her compositions and interpretations draw from a diverse range of influences, reflecting her experiences playing across multiple continents and absorbing musical traditions from around the world.

Released in May 2005, Place & Time set the stage for Cohen’s ascent as one of jazz’s most compelling voices. It’s a debut that feels both timeless and forward-looking—an album that not only showcases her immense talent but also foreshadows the rich and varied musical journey that lay ahead.

 

  • Anat Cohen (tenor & sop. sax & clarinet)
    Avishai Cohen (trumpet: 06, 07, & 09)
    Jason Lindner (piano)
    Ben Street (bass)
    Jeff Ballard (drums)

  • 01. Place & Time
    02. The 7th Of March
    03. Veinte Anos
    04. 87 North
    05. Say It
    06. Homeland
    07. As Catch Can
    08. Pour Toi
    09. Bat-El

  • Ms. Cohen, a saxophonist and clarinetist, has delivered an auspicious debut with “Place and Time”, which underscores her burnished lyricism with rhythmic nuance.
    - New York Times

    On tenor or soprano saxophone or clarinet, Cohen exhibits expressive tone, precise control and finesse, especially in the tender spots but also when she’s stomping and wailing. And her virtuoso technique enables her to swing at breakneck tempos…
    - JazzTimes

    How thoroughly refreshing it is to hear a young musician who really does have a sense of place and time in the best possible ways! [Anat Cohen's] melodies and her solos tell stories and with a voice that’s uniquely her own but also reflects true listening to her predecessors and contemporaries.
    - All About Jazz

    Cohen is remarkably comfortable with the varied program and with the band, revealing a maturity not always heard on debuts.
    - JazzWeek

    For all its foreign elements, “Place & Time” has an improvisers enthusiasm about it, a joyous creative value that is undoubtedly jazz and certainly accessible.
    - All About Jazz

    Saxist Anat Cohen has become known around town for her role in getting New Yorkers acquainted with the swinging work of Brazlian composer Pixinguinha, but her new self-produced disc, “Place & Time”, is an estimable album of straightforward jazz standards.
    - Time Out New York

    Anat Cohen has the quality of all lasting jazz musicians. She has presence. From her first notes, she tells you who she is – and over time, she tells you where she’s been in her life and travels.
    - Nat Hentoff

    If the listener is not gripped by the authenticity and personal recollections of Anat Cohen, then something is wrong. “Place & Time” is a CD that grips the imagination.
    - Jazzreview.com

    How great it is to hear a debut album of an Israeli jazz artist that is made of the right materials: talent, maturity, sensitivity, self assurance and above all – original musical personality.
    - Ben Shalev, Ha’aretz, Israel

    In “Place & Time,” her debut album, one hears musical expertise, maturity and creativity, it’s hard not to agree with a statement made that Anat has the spirit of jazz giant Ben Webster in her sound.
    - Yossi Charasonski, Ma’ariv Israel