Haggai Cohen-Milo
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GRAVITATIONS
Berlin-based double bassist and composer Haggai Cohen-Milo presents Gravitations, a bold new album recorded live at Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle and commissioned by Symphoniker Hamburg. Rather than arranging or adapting classical works, Cohen-Milo uses them as creative launchpads for entirely new compositions, reimagining music by Mahler, Verdi, and Debussy through a radical blend of jazz, improvisation, hip hop, and spoken word.
Describing his process as space travel, Cohen-Milo orbits the emotional essence of classical masterpieces before venturing into new artistic terrain. The result is a deeply human and textured album that moves fluidly between genres while preserving the soul of the originals. Recorded in one-take sessions with an ensemble of trusted collaborators, the project captures the risk, energy, and spontaneity of live performance.
At its core, Gravitations explores the relevance of classical music today, transforming it into a contemporary conversation piece. It reflects Cohen-Milo’s vision of music as a social tool – a means to connect, create, and build community. The album marks the beginning of a broader artistic journey, with upcoming international performances and new works already in development.
Haggai Cohen-Milo is a Berlin-based double bassist, composer, and interdisciplinary artist known for blending jazz, classical, improvisation, and performance art. Originally from Israel, he studied at the New England Conservatory in Boston and has since worked internationally, including with the Omer Klein Trio and on John Zorn’s Tzadik label. His innovative approach, Makespeak, combines music with movement and visual art, and has featured in major productions across Europe and the U.S. With projects like Gravitations, Cohen-Milo continues to push artistic boundaries, reimagining classical works through a contemporary, collaborative lens.
Haggai Cohen-Milo