Biography
Al Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where he initially studied piano and clarinet before being inspired by Lester Young to take up the tenor saxophone, which he taught himself to play. Making his professional debut at age 18 in 1943 with Joe Marsala's big band, Cohn quickly progressed through associations with Georgie Auld, Boyd Raeburn, Alvino Rey, and Buddy Rich, establishing himself as a skilled jazz saxophonist, arranger, and composer.[1][2][4]
Cohn rose to prominence replacing Herbie Steward in Woody Herman's Second Herd (1948-1949) as part of the famed 'Four Brothers' saxophone section alongside Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, and Serge Chaloff, contributing to the band's signature sound on Jimmy Giuffre's 'Four Brothers.'[1][2][3][6] Throughout the 1950s and beyond, he led recording sessions, arranged for jazz and non-jazz projects including TV, Broadway musicals like Raisin (1973) and Sophisticated Ladies (1981), and the Jack Sterling WCBS radio show, while co-leading a quintet with Zoot Sims from 1956 or 1957 through the early 1980s, performing regularly at NYC's Half Note and touring internationally.[1][4][5] His warm tone, influenced by Lester Young, and unpretentious arrangements marked his versatile style.[1][4]
Cohn's legacy endures through over 100 original compositions, all recorded, more than 50 leader albums, appearances on 350+ others, four Grammy nominations, and posthumous inductions into the American Jazz Hall of Fame and ASCAP Wall of Fame. He performed with Elvis Presley in 1972, appeared in films like 'The Great Rocky Mountain Jazz Party' (1977) and contributed to the 'Lenny' soundtrack (1974).[1][5]
Fun Facts
- Cohn performed onstage with Elvis Presley in June 1972 as part of the Joe Malin Orchestra at Madison Square Garden.[1]
- He accompanied Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac during club readings and recording sessions alongside Zoot Sims.[5]
- Cohn contributed tenor solos to the soundtrack of the 1974 film 'Lenny' about comedian Lenny Bruce.[1][4]
- Self-taught on tenor saxophone after initial piano and clarinet studies, he debuted professionally at age 18 without formal lessons.[2][4]
Associated Acts
- The Al Cohn & Zoot Sims Quintet - eponymous, original
- Boyd Raeburn & His Orchestra - tenor saxophone
- Al Cohn Quartet - eponymous, original, tenor saxophone
- Steve Allen and His All-Stars
- Billy Byers & His Orchestra
- Al Cohn-Zoot Sims Sextet
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Lester Young - Primary stylistic inspiration who prompted Cohn to switch to tenor saxophone (Influenced Cohn's warm tone and approach in all recordings) [Teenage years, 1940s]
Key Collaborators
- Zoot Sims - Long-term co-leader of quintet and frequent recording partner, both former Herman sidemen and Lester Young disciples (Co-led quintet albums and sessions from 1946 onward, regular Half Note performances) [1946-1985 (Sims' death)]
- Woody Herman - Band leader in Second Herd as part of Four Brothers saxophone section ('Four Brothers' recording and band repertoire) [1948-1949]
- Stan Getz - Fellow Four Brothers member in Woody Herman's band; later multi-tenor sessions (Woody Herman Second Herd; 1949 Prestige five-tenor date) [1948-1949]
- Serge Chaloff - Four Brothers baritone saxophonist in Woody Herman's band (Woody Herman Second Herd) [1948-1949]
Artists Influenced
- Joe Cohn - Son who became a jazz guitarist (N/A) [Post-1988]
- Shaye Cohn - Granddaughter, cornet player and leader of Tuba Skinny (Street performances in New Orleans) [Contemporary]
Connection Network
External Links
Tags: #american, #beat-poetry, #big-band-jazz
References
Heard on WWOZ
Al Cohn has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 28, 2025 | 06:10 | East Of The Sunfrom The Classic 1950s Sessions | The Sunday Morning Jazz Setw/ Mark Landesman |