Anat Cohen: Poetica

Clarinetist Anat Cohen is the leader, and this is an album she has wanted to record for some time, "to share some of what [she has] learned about playing the clarinet in various musical contexts. In this instance, the framework includes folk and popular songs from various sources, original compositions by Cohen ("The Purple Piece," "La Casa del Llano ) and bassist Omer Avital (who arranged six of the ten selections), Jacques Brel's seductive "Chanson des Vieux Amants and one authentic jazz theme, John Coltrane's "Lonnie's Lament. These are songs, Cohen writes, that she "has loved for years. And it's easy to understand why, as they truly are lovely.

Cohen, who's no slouch on alto or tenor sax, plays clarinet exclusively here, supported for the most part by Avital, pianist Jason Lindner (a superb accompanist) and drummer Daniel Freedman. A string quartet is added on four selections, with percussionist Gilad (and strings) on Avital's impressionistic "Cypresses. "I've always associated the clarinet with sounds that are flowing, expressive and intimate . . . i.e, poetic, Cohen writes. "I made this album, and named it Poetica, to inspire others to share this association with me.

Cohen, as noted, is an outstanding musician who leaves no doubt why she was named a "rising star on clarinet in last year's Down Beat Magazine critics poll. While she plays marvelously, one should keep in mind that the music on offer isn't, for the most part, jazz, and not expect to hear the dynamic licks of a Buddy DeFranco, Eddie Daniels, Paquito D'Rivera or even Don Byron, even though Cohen clearly has channeled each of them for inspiration. The album is inspiring too, and while its reason for being is love, not money, it is nonetheless worth seeking out and savoring.