Al Cohn
Biography Al Cohn
Al Cohn
was a jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger whose career spanned 45 years. In the 1940s he played in the bands of Joe Marsala and Buddy Rich, but began to attract attention when he joined Woody Herman's '"Four Brothers" in 1948. In Herman's band Cohn met fellow tenor player Zoot Sims and the two musicians began an association that would last until their deaths. Al Cohn released dozens of records as leader or co-leader, many with Sims, and appears on over 350 recordings as a sideman. He was a talented composer/arranger and provided arrangements for a variety of artists including Woody Herman, Quincy Jones, Gerry Mulligan, Tony Bennet, Peggy Lee, and Linda Ronstadt. Cohn also arranged for Broadway and television, working on the Broadway productions of Raisin' and Sophisticated Ladies and television shows such as “The Steve Allen Show,” and “Sid Caesar’s Show of Shows.” In his later years, Cohn largely gave up writing so that he could focus on his playing. Al Cohn died of cancer in 1988 at the age of 62.
