PURCHASE HALFTIME HERE
PRESS HIGHLIGHTS
“Discreet, rich work from Phil Robson, Calum Gourlay and James Bashford creates an alluring, rarefied chamber jazz atmosphere where Cohen dances over her own unpredictable chord structures with articulacy and wit, elegantly blending Desmond’s cool, Konitz’s quirk and Coleman’s lyrical astringency.”
4 Stars, MOJO Magazine
“Saxophonist Cohen crafts some deceptively simple melodies, where nuance and subtlety provide great rewards.”
Emusic
“From this clever set she sounds like she has a clear sense of where she’s headed, with a technique to match. Cohen takes a softly devious approach reminiscent of Lee Konitz – but, as with the canny Cool School veteran, the quietness is deceptive and the subtlety is in the weighting of phrases and the hipness with which she plays off the rhythm section.”
The Guardian
“A promising new talent… [Cohen is] a player who’s not afraid to leave her sound exposed and who’s aware of the importance of space and emotion.”
All About Jazz
“A four star welcome for Ms. Cohen.”
4 Stars, Jazzwise Magazine
“Halftime represents a début for Cohen to be proud of. The playing is immaculate throughout but it’s Cohen’s writing ability that perhaps impresses most.”
4 Stars, The Jazz Mann
“She is, on the evidence of this wholly entertaining, absorbing album, a considerable compositional and instrumental talent.”
London Jazz
“Halftime is an assured and impressive debut as a leader and composer and Rachael’s choice of musicians could not be better, Robson always impressive and Gourlay and Bashford completing a solid partnership.”
The York Press
“Cohen has a warm tone, with none of the stridency the alto can be prone to. Her playing has a melodic logic which is both fresh and at the same time easy to follow… [Cohen] brings a timeless quality to her music.”
The Jazz Breakfast
“Another contender for CD of the Year.”
Bebop Spoken Here
“Cohen’s saxophone playing is fluent, contained and thoughtful, her tone an affecting warble, gentle and confiding in its quieter moments, but hardening where required to enable her to explore all the various nooks and crannies of her melodic, carefully wrought themes.”
London Jazz
“The album moves from Konitzian territory via Ornette and even to the outer expanses of Anthony Braxton’s early-1970s sound, the harmonies are very precise and open up like a story.”
Marlbank
“While recent jazz graduates tend to sometimes rather arrogantly overlook experienced sidemen in favor of their mates, Cohen on the other hand sagely selects the tastefully robust guitarist Phil Robson, who does a great job in support.”
4 Stars, Jazzwise Magazine