On the jazz scene since he was a teenager, Emmet Cohen is no longer a young phenom, but has established himself as one of the foremost pianists and bandleaders on the contemporary jazz scene. Mentored by so many notable and established jazz artists including Shelly Berg, Christian McBride, Johnny O’Neal and Houston Person, Cohen has been leading his own trio (featuring either Russell Hall or Yasushi Nakamura on bass and Kyle Poole on drums) for many years. His popular online livestream series Live from Emmet’s Place from his home in Harlem (and occasional venues on the road) with the trio as the (literal) house band has featured a wide array of guest artists, from emerging players to the elders, and it recently celebrated its 100th show.
After many years performing at Dizzy’s Club, Cohen will be making his debut at the beautiful Appel Room at Jazz Lincoln Center on Oct. 21-22 with concerts featuring his trio, along with special guests Lucy Yeghiazaryan, Mary Stallings and Johnny O’Neal. In addition, Cohen’s latest album, Uptown in Orbit, again with his trio, but also featuring trumpeter Sean Jones and saxophonist Patrick Bartley, will be released Oct. 28 on Mack Avenue Records. It’s his second for the label and his ninth as a leader, including four in his Masters Legacy series, which featured legends such as Benny Golson, Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, George Coleman and Tootie Heath.
Cohen spoke with WBGO’s Sheila Anderson, his longtime friend and Harlem neighbor, about the new album, his history with Jazz at Lincoln Center, and his Live from Emmet’s Place online concert series, as well as about the impact of several of his mentors. “I’ve known Emmet since he came to NYC in 2012 and have watched him grow,” Sheila says. “He is mature beyond his years. It warms my heart that he, at age 32, not only reveres the tradition, but that he honors our living masters. I've talked with countless musicians about their early experiences, as young people, working with elders, but I've never heard anyone talk about finally being ‘comfortable’ working with them as Emmet described his working with Houston Person. I love Emmet’s enthusiasm and honesty. He is an artist who is looking back while going forward to bring this music in the present.”
Watch their conversation here:
