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Ryan Cohan

Motéma recording artist and Guggenheim Fellow Ryan Cohan has distinguished himself as a vital original voice to be heard amongst the elite young pianist/composers on the global music scene today. Leading his own groups and as a sideman, Ryan has performed at premier venues worldwide and has worked with such jazz luminaries and stellar ensembles as Freddie Hubbard, Curtis Fuller, Joe Locke, Paquito D’Rivera, Bob Cranshaw, Victor Lewis, Jeff Hamilton, Orbert Davis and The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Kurt Elling, Jon Faddis, Pat La Barbera, Andy Narell, Regina Carter, Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s MusicNOW Ensemble, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, The Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, Otis Clay, and The Chicago Chamber Musicians among many others. Ryan has written extensively for and toured with NEA Jazz Master Ramsey Lewis, contributing more than a dozen pieces to several of Mr. Lewis’s albums and the theme music to Lewis’s nationally syndicated television show The Legends Of Jazz. Recently, Ryan penned orchestral arrangements for Joe Locke’s live concert recording, Wish Upon A Star (Motéma Music) featuring Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra and recorded with Locke’s quartet for his latest CD release, Lay Down My Heart: Blues and Ballads, Vol. 1.

The Ryan Cohan Quartet was twice selected for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s highly competitive Rhythm Road program which was cosponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Consequently, his group embarked on multiple extended tours in Africa, Europe and The Middle East as cultural ambassadors. Ryan has produced four critically acclaimed albums of all original compositions: Real World (Real World Music, 1997); Here and Now (Sirocco Jazz, 2001); One Sky (Motéma Music, 2007) which was hailed as one of the best recordings of the year by the Chicago Tribune and many other journals; and Another Look (Motéma Music, 2010) called “a model for modern jazz piano albums” by ICON magazine. The River, Ryan’s fifth CD featuring a concert length suite inspired by his travels in Africa that was performed at Millennium Park in Chicago to a crowd of over 8,000, will be released early summer 2013 by Motéma Music.

As a prolific writer for over twenty years, Ryan has created original works ranging from solo piano pieces to full orchestral arrangements and has scored two independent films. In recognition of his work, Ryan has received the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship For Composition, three grant awards from Chamber Music America, The Aaron Copland Recording Grant, two Illinois Arts Council Fellowships, the Composer Assistance grant from American Music Center and three creative arts grants from The City Of Chicago.

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15
Album Review

Ryan Cohan: Originations

Read "Originations" reviewed by Paul Rauch


There is a risk in creating art that reflects in essence, one's own personal journey. What that journey reveals within the context of one life may not carry the same value to a collective audience. In the case of Chicago based composer/pianist Ryan Cohan, his explorative delve into his own bi-cultural roots as presented on his new release, Originations (Origin, 2020), would not resonate with listeners if the music itself was not thrilling. Music provides unity like no other communicative ...

5
Album Review

Ryan Cohan: The River

Read "The River" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Looking back, there must be hundreds or perhaps thousands of album titles that designate some reference to a river, regardless of their genre. But talented pianist Ryan Cohan does impart a distinctive stylization within the grand scope of this thoroughly modern jazz oeuvre, inspired by a recent U.S. State Department-sponsored tour of East Africa, and intersected with his Chicago roots. His septet seamlessly binds soul blues, African pop, and the jazz idiom, via concise, razor-sharp arrangements, often executed with the ...

152
Album Review

Ryan Cohan: Another Look

Read "Another Look" reviewed by Alex Marianyi


Unlike many of his past releases, Ryan Cohan's Another Look focuses heavily on group interaction and improvisation. Penning all but two of the tunes on the album, the pianist's arrangements allow his musicians maximum flexibility. That the CD's main quartet has been playing together since 2003, and was on the road for six straight weeks before this session, further adds to the group identity found on this recording. The main quartet does, indeed, make this album come ...

181
Live Review

Ryan Cohan/Geof Bradfield: Chicago, IL, August 11, 2011

Read "Ryan Cohan/Geof Bradfield: Chicago, IL, August 11, 2011" reviewed by Alex Marianyi


Ryan Cohan, Geof BradfieldMillennium Park Pritzker Pavilion Chicago, ILAugust 11, 2011 The heat wave broke in Chicago and, weather-wise, the night was shaping up to be one of the best all summer. African Journeys, featuring Ryan Cohan and Geof Bradfield, began as saxophonist Bradfield's group took the stage to perform his extended work, “African Flowers." Shortly after a brief musical introduction, Bradfield reminded the audience of the trip that had inspired his set and pianist ...

251
Album Review

Ryan Cohan: One Sky

Read "One Sky" reviewed by J Hunter


In 2005, Ryan Cohan received a grant from Chamber Music America to create one long-form composition on a subject of his choosing. One year later, he debuted the piece during a free concert at Skidmore Jazz Institute in Saratoga Springs, New York, where he has been both student and educator. The audience heard a work of stunning scope, color, nuance and energy that night; One Sky captures that lightning in a bottle, and Cohan's liner notes give the listener a ...

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58

Recording

Motema Music to Release Another Look from Pianist/Composer and Guggenheim Fellow Ryan Cohan

Motema Music to Release Another Look from Pianist/Composer and Guggenheim Fellow Ryan Cohan

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

Motéma Music to Release ANOTHER LOOK fromPianist/Composer & Guggenheim Fellow RYAN COHAN Available In Stores & Online On September 14, 2010 “You'll be struck by the exquisite detail of [Ryan's] writing." - Howard Reich, The Chicago Tribune Another Look CD Release Events!: September 17 & 18 @ The Green Mill (Chicago)September 19 @ Room 43 (Chicago)October 8 & 9 @ Peter Miller's (Evanston, IL)November 4-7 @ The Jazz Showcase (Chicago)December 14 @ The Chicago Cultural Center On September 14, 2010, ...

97

Performance / Tour

Pianist/Composer Ryan Cohan Live at the Green Mill in Celebration of One Sky

Pianist/Composer Ryan Cohan Live at the Green Mill in Celebration of One Sky

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

On October 16, 2007, Motema, one of the industry's new leading independent labels, proudly released One Sky, pianist/composer/arranger Ryan Cohan's follow up recording to the highly praised sophomore release, Here and Now (Sirocco Jazz, UK). One Sky, recorded immediately after sold-out shows at Chicago's historic venue, The Green Mill, features Ryan Cohan in the esteemed company of Bob Sheppard on saxophones and flute, James Cammack on double bass, Tito Carrillo on trumpet, and Cohan's exciting working quartet featuring saxophonist Geof ...

123

Performance / Tour

Pianist/Composer Ryan Cohan Live at the Green Mill, November 30 + December 1

Pianist/Composer Ryan Cohan Live at the Green Mill, November 30 + December 1

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

Chicago-Based Pianist/Composer RYAN COHAN Live at THE GREEN MILL In Celebration of One Sky Friday & Saturday, November 30-December 1 One Sky is available in stores and online NOW (on Motema Music) “You'll be struck by the exquisite detail of [Ryan's] writing." ~ Howard Reich, The Chicago Tribune “Chicago is an underappreciated haven for great bebop pianists, something to which Ryan Cohan's new One Sky further gives credence. With his witty arrangements and blistering solo capabilities, Cohan is ...

131

Performance / Tour

NYC + Chicago CD Release Celebrations for Ryan Cohan's New CD, One Sky

NYC + Chicago CD Release Celebrations for Ryan Cohan's New CD, One Sky

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

NYC + Chicago CD Release Celebrations for RYAN COHAN'S new CD ONE SKY @ The Langston Hughes House in NYC ONE NIGHT ONLY, one set only - OCTOBER 16 @ 8:30 PM The Langston Hughes House is located at 20 E. 127th Street (between 5th & Madison) 2 blocks from Metro North and the 125th St. Stop of #2, 3 & 4, 5,& 6 IRT Lines To reserve tickets write [email protected] or ...

73

Recording

Motema Music Geared up to Release "One Sky" from Chicago-Based Pianist/Composer Ryan Cohan

Motema Music Geared up to Release "One Sky" from Chicago-Based Pianist/Composer Ryan Cohan

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

AVAILABLE IN STORES AND ONLINE ON OCTOBER 16 On October 16, 2007, Motema, one of the industry's new leading independent labels, will proudly release One Sky, pianist/composer/arranger Ryan Cohan's follow up recording to the highly praised sophomore release, Here and Now (Sirocco Jazz, UK). One Sky, recorded immediately after sold-out shows at Chicago's historic venue, The Green Mill, features Ryan Cohan in the esteemed company of Bob Sheppard on saxophones and flute, James Cammack on double bass, Tito Carrillo on ...

105

Performance / Tour

Bosendorfer New York: Series of Jazz Piano Duos, Trios, Quartets "Ryan Cohan Trio" Wednesday, April 26th 7:30 PM

Bosendorfer New York: Series of Jazz Piano Duos, Trios, Quartets  "Ryan Cohan Trio" Wednesday, April 26th 7:30 PM

Source: All About Jazz

Great Networking Jazz Event! Meet the Series Producers! Reserve a Seat NOW and Bring a CD and Business Cards! This Wednesday, April 26, 2006 “Ryan Cohan Trio" 7:30 PM

Only $35 for Concert, Austrian Wine, European Cheeses For further information and to RSVP:

[email protected] 212.684.1956 Bosendorfer New York -- Series of Jazz Piano Duos, Trios, Quartets Curated by Dr. Roberta Zlokower

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Originations

Origin Records
2020

buy

The River

Motéma Music
2013

buy

Another Look

Motéma Music
2011

buy

One Sky

Motéma Music
2008

buy

Imaginary Lines

From: Originations
By Ryan Cohan

Arrival (Live)

From: The River
By Ryan Cohan

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