Desert Quality

When the fast-rising jazz bassist Avishai Cohen plays the Baked Potato in North Hollywood on Friday, he’ll bring along five of New York City’s top young players. But the enthralling, exotic music he’ll offer won’t reflect life in that mad metropolis. Instead, as the title of his debut album, “Adama” (Hebrew for “Earth”), suggests, the dark, rich tones and rhythms will be have an earthy, even mysterious, feeling and will intimate a particular clime: the Middle East.

All this makes sense when you learn that Cohen, 27, was born in Naharia, Israel, and raised in Jerusalem. And, as a child, he didn’t hear straight-ahead jazz but mostly Sephardic music, as well as works in the classic realm that his mother played on records.

“That was what was in my ears for years, a lot of classical music, but also authentic Sephardic melodies and tunes, such as those that were heard in Spain” circa AD 1500, said Cohen.

Jazz came later, when a teen-age Cohen lived in St. Louis for two years when his mother worked as an art historian there. And, of course, when he moved to New York in 1992 and began playing with the top core of youthful jazz artists, among them pianist Danilo Perez, saxophonist Mark Turner and pianist Brad Mehldau.

Cohen said it was a natural occurrence, rather than a conscious decision, that he blended the sound of the Middle East and jazz in the compelling tunes that make up “Adama,” many of which he’ll play at the Baked.

“I was just documenting a bunch of music I was hearing and composing in New York,” said Cohen, in a phone call from Telluride, Colo., where he was appearing as part of pianist Chick Corea’s sextet, Origin. And although some of the music, such as the undulating “Dror,” has what the bassist called a “desert quality,” that wasn’t intended either. “When I write, I don’t think of camels,” he said, laughing. “I just think of music.”

The band Cohen is bringing to the Valley is essentially the same group that played on his album, and comprises trombonist Steve Davis, drummer Jeff Ballard, pianist Jason Lindner, saxophonist Jimmy Green and Amos Hoffman on guitar and oud. Cohen said the latter instrument, which could be called a Middle Eastern lute, mixes beautifully with his bass.

“The oud is very raw and earthy, and it has become the distinct sound in the band,” said Cohen. “It often doubles the bass lines.” And even though the melody parts are often played by soprano sax and trombone, the leader puts his bass out front, too, stating themes, centering numbers around his repeating lines and soloing.

“The way I incorporate the bass in the sound, it’s as if I’m conducting the band with the bass,” he said.

Playing the Baked is going to cost Cohen money, as he’ll have to fly band members out from Manhattan. He doesn’t care. “I’m not going to settle for anything less than the sound of this music.”

* Avishai Cohen plays Friday, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., at the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood. $10 cover, two-drink minimum. (818) 980-1615.

Quick Hits: Expect solid sounds in a post-bop mode when trumpeter Sal Marquez, a man with a singing tone, takes charge Friday, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., at Chadney’s (3000 W. Olive St., Burbank; no cover, one-drink minimum per show; [818] 843-5333). On Saturday, same time, same station, saxophonist Don Menza is in with blistering up-tempo tunes balanced by lush, emotive ballads.

Long known as a big-band leader, trumpeter Chuck Foster is also a first-rate bebop-influenced jazz stylist. He makes a welcome Valley appearance Monday, 8 p.m., at Common Grounds, 9250 Reseda Blvd., Northridge; no cover, $2.50 minimum purchase; (818) 882-3666.

Keyboardist David Garfield, a talented fellow, assembles a dandy crew for his contemporary jazz affair on Wednesday, 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., at Cafe Cordiale, 14015 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; no cover, no minimum; (818) 789-1985. The band includes the bluesmeister guitarist Phil Upchurch, and an ace veteran drummer and bassist, Joe Porcaro and Ken Wild, respectively.