Phil Cohran

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Kelan Phil Cohran (born in Oxford, Mississippi in May 8, 1927) is a jazz musician. He is known most for his trumpet contributions in the Sun Ra Arkestra in Chicago during 1959-1961 and for his involvement in the foundation of the AACM.

Cohran grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and played trumpet in bands led by Jay McShann in the early 1950s, and then in a U.S. Navy band. [1]

His tenure in the Sun Ra Arkestra is documented on records such as Fate in a Pleasant Mood and Angels and Demons at Play. He also appears on the important rediscovered documentation of Chicago Arkestra performances on Music for Tomorrow's World. While most of Cohran's contributions were on trumpet, some also show his interest in stringed instruments such as zithers.

When the Arkestra moved from Chicago, Cohran declined to accompany them. In 1965 he participated in the formation of the AACM. Cohran formed the Artistic Heritage Ensemble with Pete Cosey among others. By this time, he was playing the harp as well as cornet, as well as other brass instruments, such as the french horn, baritone saxophone and percussion. On the Beach is an available recording which documents their music around 1967-68.

Early in his career he invented an instrument he calls the "Frankophone", aka the "Space Harp" heard on some of Sun Ra's early albums. The instrument is actually an electrified mbira or kalimba. This instrument inspired Maurice White to use an electrified Kalimba in performance with Earth, Wind and Fire. Cohran states he taught Maurice and his brothers music in their youth, much like The Wailers were tutored by Joe Higgs.

Cohran's sons make up seven of the eight members of Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, a street ensemble consisting of brass and drums. Cohran is also a renowned astronomer and presently teaches voice and music to inner city youth and adults at Northeastern Center for Inner City Studies.