Al Cohn


Alvin Gilbert Cohn 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

Al Cohn's Tones East Coast-West Coast Scene split album with Shorty RogersMr. Music The Natural Seven That Old Feeling Four Brass One Tenor The Brothers! with Bill Perkins and Richie KamucaFrom A to...Z The Al Cohn/Zoot Sims SextetThe Sax Section Cohn on the Saxophone The Al Cohn [Quintet Featuring Bobby Brookmeyer] – with Bob BrookmeyerTenor Conclave – with John Coltrane, Hank Mobley and Zoot SimsThe Four Brothers... Together Again! with Serge Chaloff, Zoot Sims and Herbie StewardAl and Zoot with Zoot SimsJazz Alive! A Night at the Half Note with Zoot Sims and Phil WoodsYou 'n' Me – the Al Cohn/Zoot Sims QuintetSon of Drum Suite Either Way with Zoot SimsJazz Mission to Moscow Al & Zoot in London Easy as Pie: Live at the West Bank with Zoot SimsBody and Soul with Zoot SimsMotoring Along with Zoot SimsPlay It Now True Blue with Dexter GordonSilver Blue with Dexter GordonAl Cohn's America Heavy Love with Jimmy RowlesNo Problem Xanadu in Africa with Billy Mitchell, Dolo Coker, Leroy Vinnegar and Frank ButlerNight Flight to Dakar with Billy Mitchell, Dolo Coker, Leroy Vinnegar and Frank ButlerNonpareil with Lou Levy, Monty Budwig, Jake HannaTour De Force live in Japan, with tenor players Buddy Tate and Scott HamiltonStandards of Excellence
  • The Claw with Flip PhilipsRifftide with Rein de Graaf, Koos Serierse, Eric Ineke

As sideman

With Manny AlbamThe Drum Suite with Ernie Wilkins
With Mose AllisonYour Mind Is on Vacation
With Trigger AlpertTrigger Happy! also released as East Coast Sounds
With George BarnesGuitars Galore
With Art BlakeyArt Blakey Big Band
With Bob BrookmeyerBob Brookmeyer featuring Al Cohn Brookmeyer Kansas City Revisited Stretching Out (Zoot Sims and Bob [Brookmeyer album)|Stretching Out] with Zoot SimsPortrait of the Artist Gloomy Sunday and Other Bright Moments
With Kenny BurrellEarthy
With Buck Clayton
With Miles Davis
With Jimmy GiuffreThe Music Man
With Freddie GreenMr. Rhythm
With Urbie Green
With Coleman Hawkins
With Woody HermanThe Thundering Herds Keeper Of The Flame
With Quincy Jones
With Jack KerouacBlues and Haikus
With Jimmy Knepper
With Mundell LoweSatan in High Heels soundtrack
With the Metronome All-StarsMetronome All-Stars 1956
With Gary McFarlandThe Jazz Version of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying"
With Carmen McRaeBirds of a Feather
With Gerry MulliganThe Gerry Mulligan Songbook
With Joe NewmanAll I Wanna Do Is Swing I'm Still Swinging Salute to Satch
With Oscar Pettiford Oscar Pettiford Sextet
With Lalo Schifrin and Bob Brookmeyer

As arranger

With Maynard Ferguson
With Astrud GilbertoLook to the Rainbow
With Quincy JonesThe Birth of a Band! The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones
With Irene Kral
With Gerry MulliganHolliday with Mulligan with Judy Holliday
With Mark MurphyThat's How I Love the Blues!
With Joe NewmanThe Happy Cats
With Herb Pomeroy