Emmet Cohen

Biography

Emmet Cohen, born May 25, 1990, in Miami, Florida, and raised in Montclair, New Jersey, began studying piano at age three using the Suzuki method. He attended Montclair High School, where he participated in The Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensemble, meeting future collaborators, and later earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami's Frost School of Music in 2012 and a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music in 2014 on a full merit scholarship. As a young musician, Cohen frequented jazz clubs, learning from artists and playing the Hammond B-3 organ at Cecil's Jazz Club under Cecil Brooks III and saxophonist Bruce Williams.[2][1][6]

Cohen's career took off with his self-released debut album In the Element in 2010, followed by wins in the 2011 Phillips Jazz Piano Competition and finalist status in the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition. He released Infinity (2013) and Questioned Answered (2014), establishing himself as a bandleader with the Emmet Cohen Trio featuring members like Russell Hall and Joe Farnsworth. His style blends jazz mastery with classical influences, evident in technical precision and stride piano nods, as in his Mack Avenue debut Future Stride (2021). Cohen won the 2019 American Pianists Awards Cole Porter Fellowship, gaining a recording contract and residency, and served as Hammond B-3 Organist-in-Residence at Harlem's SMOKE jazz club.[2][1][3][6]

A dedicated educator, Cohen visits 50 schools yearly via Jazz at Lincoln Center's Jazz for Young People and created the Masters Legacy Series to honor jazz pioneers, starting with Jimmy Cobb. During the COVID-19 lockdown, his 'Live From Emmet's Place' livestream garnered millions of views. He has performed globally at festivals like Monterey, Newport, and North Sea, and venues including the Village Vanguard and Kennedy Center, solidifying his legacy as a pivotal jazz figure.[1][2][4][6]

Fun Facts

• As a high schooler, Cohen was received in the Oval Office by President Obama after being a finalist in the 2011 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition.[6]
• During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, his weekly 'Live From Emmet's Place' livestream received millions of views worldwide.[1]
• In 2023, the Jazz Journalists Association named him both Pianist of the Year and Live-stream Producer of the Year.[6]
• Cohen has collaborated on interdisciplinary programs with choreographers Debbie Allen and Bill T. Jones.[3][4]

Associated Acts

• Emmet Cohen Trio - eponymous, original

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Cecil Brooks III - Taught him to play Hammond B-3 organ at Cecil's Jazz Club (Sessions at Cecil's Jazz Club) [High school years, pre-2012]
• Bruce Williams - Saxophonist who led sessions where Cohen played B-3 (Sessions at Cecil's Jazz Club) [High school years, pre-2012]

Key Collaborators

• Russell Hall - Bassist in Emmet Cohen Trio (Emmet Cohen Trio recordings and tours) [2010s-present]
• Joe Farnsworth - Drummer in Emmet Cohen Trio (Emmet Cohen Trio recordings and tours) [2010s-present]
• Christian McBride - Member of McBride's Tip City trio (Tip City trio) [Ongoing]
• Jimmy Cobb - Pianist on Masters Legacy Series recording (Masters Legacy Series Vol. 1) [2010s]
• Lea DeLaria - Pianist and music director (DeLaria's performances) [Ongoing]

Artists Influenced

• Bryan Carter - Met in high school ensemble; future collaborator inspired by early connection (Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensemble) [High school, ~2008]
• Benny Benack III - Met in high school ensemble; future collaborator (Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensemble) [High school, ~2008]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #jazz, #post-bop