Representative Albums: "Mosaic Select: Al Cohn, Joe Newman & Freddie Green," "Jazz Legacy: New York Sessions, Vol. 2," "Al Cohn Quintet Featuring Bob Brookmeyer"
Representative Songs: "Tenor for Two Please, Jack," "That's What You Think," "When Day Is Done"
Biography
An excellent tenor saxophonist and a superior arranger/composer, Al Cohn was greatly admired by his fellow musicians. Early gigs included associations with Joe Marsala (1943), Georgie Auld, Boyd Raeburn (1946), Alvino Rey, and Buddy Rich (1947). But it was when he replaced Herbie Steward as one of the "Four Brothers" with Woody Herman's Second Herd (1948-1949) that Cohn began to make a strong impression. He was actually overshadowed by Stan Getz and Zoot Sims during this period but, unlike the other two tenors, he also contributed arrangements, including "The Goof and I." He was with Artie Shaw's short-lived bop orchestra (1949), and then spent the 1950s quite busy as a recording artist (making his first dates as a leader in 1950), arranger for both jazz and non-jazz settings, and a performer. Starting in 1956, and continuing on an irregular basis for decades, Cohn co-led a quintet with Zoot Sims. The two tenors were so complementary that it was often difficult to tell them apart. Al Cohn continued in this fashion in the 1960s (although playing less), in the 1970s he recorded many gems for Xanadu, and during his last few years, when his tone became darker and more distinctive, Cohn largely gave up writing to concentrate on playing. He made many excellent bop-based records throughout his career for such labels as Prestige, Victor, Xanadu, and Concord; his son Joe Cohn is a talented cool-toned guitarist. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Career Highlights: Son of a Sailor, Mystery Ranch, Numbered Men
First Major Screen Credit: Numbered Men (1930)
Biography
Composer/musician Al Cohn was heavily involved in jazz music for over 40 years. His saxophone solos can be heard on the soundtrack of Bob Fosse's Lenny (1974). Later Cohn composed music for television shows and Broadway productions. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
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 the better known tenors Sims and Getz, Cohn contributed arrangements to the Herman band. Cohn has a reputation as a lyrical flowing soloist.
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". Also, Al Cohn did arrangements for unreleased Linda Rondstadt recordings from the 1980s.[1]
