Al Cohn
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| Al Cohn | |
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 Al Cohn at the Village Jazz Lounge (L.Kolb)
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 24, 1925 |
| Origin | United States |
| Died | February 15, 1988 (aged 62) |
| Genre(s) | Big band jazz West coast jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, bandleader, saxophonist |
| Instrument(s) | Tenor saxophone, |
| Years active | 19402 - 1980s |
| Label(s) | Coral Records, Mercury Records |
| Associated acts | Woody Herman, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz |
Al Cohn was an American jazz saxophonist and arranger/composer.
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[edit] Life and career
Cohn was initially known in the 1940s for playing in Woody Herman's Second Herd as one of the Four Brothers, along with Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, and Serge Chaloff. Unlike his the better known tenors Sims and Getz, Cohn contributed arrangements to the Herman band. Cohn has a reputation as a lyrical flowing soloist.
[edit] Al Cohn and Zoot Sims
After leaving the Herman group Cohn went on to play with a variety of other musicians but his best-known association was his long-term partnership with fellow Herman veteran tenor player Sims, beginning with the quintet they co-led in 1956. They continued to play together sporadically until the death of Sims. The high point of their recorded output can be found on "You 'n' Me" a collection of standards and original compositions released on Mercury Records in 1960. The two also played on some of author Jack Kerouac's recordings. The rhythm section on their classic 50s recordings included Mose Allison on piano.
In addition to his work as a jazz tenor saxophonist Al Cohn was a noted arranger, his work included the Broadway productions of "Raisin" and "Sophisticated Ladies".
[edit] Personal life
Cohn died in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania in 1988. His son Joe Cohn is a talented guitarist.
[edit] Select Discography
With Zoot Sims:
- East Coast Sounds (1956) - Cohn and Sims in New York with clarinetist Tony Scott, arrangements by Marty Paich and Dick Hyman.
- From A To Z (1956)
- Al And Zoot (1957)
- You 'N' Me (1960)
The compilation Complete Original Quintet/Sextet Studio Recordings contains these three albums plus their first recordings together in 1952.
- Either Way (1960)
- Hoagy Carmichael Sessions and More
- Easy as Pie: Live at the Left Bank (1968) live in Baltimore, with pianist Dave Frishberg,
As leader:
- Cohn's Tones (1950)
- Cohn on the Saxophone (1956) - Dawn Records
- Featuring Bob Brookmeyer (1956) - Coral Records, with trombonist Bob Brookmeyer
- Play It Now (1975; Xanadu Records)
- Al Cohn's America (1976; Xanadu Records)
- No Problem (1979; Xanadu Records)
- Nonpareil (1981; Concord Records), with Lou Levy, Monty Budwig, Jake Hanna
As co-leader:
- True Blue w/ Dexter Gordon (1976; Xanadu Records)
- Silver Blue w/ Dexter Gordon (1976; Xanadu Records)
- Heavy Love w/ Jimmy Rowles (1977; Xanadu Records)
- Tour De Force (1981) live in Japan w/ tenor players Buddy Tate and Scott Hamilton.
