Al Cohn

Al Cohn
Cohn at Lennie's on the Turnpike in 1965
Cohn at Lennie's on the Turnpike in 1965
Background information
Born
Alvin Gilbert Cohn

(1925-11-24)November 24, 1925
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 15, 1988(1988-02-15) (aged 62)
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
  • bandleader
InstrumentTenor saxophone
Years active1940s–1980s
Labels

Alvin Gilbert Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist Zoot Sims.

Biography

Cohn was born in Brooklyn, New York.

In addition to his work as a jazz tenor saxophonist, Cohn was widely respected as an arranger. His work included the Broadway productions of Raisin' and Sophisticated Ladies, and his arrangements of his own compositions were recorded by big bands led by Maynard Ferguson, Gerry Mulligan, Terry Gibbs and Bob Brookmeyer. Cohn also arranged for unreleased Linda Ronstadt recordings from the 1980s.

In June, 1972, Cohn appeared on stage with Elvis Presley, as a member of the Joe Malin Orchestra at Madison Square Garden.

Cohn died of liver cancer in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania in 1988.

Cohn's first wife was singer Marilyn Moore. His son, Joe Cohn, is a jazz guitarist. Granddaughter Shaye Cohn, Joe's daughter, is a musician who plays cornet with her band Tuba Skinny.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As sideman

With Manny Albam

With Mose Allison

With Trigger Alpert

With George Barnes

With Art Blakey

With Bob Brookmeyer

With Kenny Burrell

With Buck Clayton

With Miles Davis

With Jimmy Giuffre

With Freddie Green

With Urbie Green

With Coleman Hawkins

With Woody Herman

With Quincy Jones

With Jack Kerouac

With Jimmy Knepper

With Mundell Lowe

With the Metronome All-Stars

With Gary McFarland

With Carmen McRae

With Gerry Mulligan

With Joe Newman

With Oscar Pettiford

With Lalo Schifrin and Bob Brookmeyer

As arranger

With Maynard Ferguson

With Astrud Gilberto

With Quincy Jones

With Irene Kral

With Gerry Mulligan

With Mark Murphy

With Joe Newman

With Herb Pomeroy

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 521. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ↑ Bloom, Steve (July 1985). "An Intimate Conversation With Linda Ronstadt". Downbeat magazine.
  3. ↑ "Bob Brookmeyer Featuring Al Cohn - Storyville Presents Bob Brookmeyer". Discogs. 1954.