Alvin Gilbert Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist Zoot Sims.

Biography Cohn was born in Brooklyn, New York.

In addition to his work as a jazz tenor saxophonist, Cohn was widely respected as an arranger. His work included the Broadway productions of Raisin and Sophisticated Ladies, and his arrangements of his own compositions were recorded by big bands led by Maynard Ferguson, Gerry Mulligan, Terry Gibbs and Bob Brookmeyer. Cohn also arranged for unreleased Linda Ronstadt recordings from the 1980s.

In June, 1972, Cohn appeared on stage with Elvis Presley, as a member of the Joe Malin Orchestra at Madison Square Garden.

Cohn died of liver cancer in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania in 1988.

Cohn's first wife was singer Marilyn Moore. His son, Joe Cohn, is a jazz guitarist. Granddaughter Shaye Cohn, Joe's daughter, is a musician who plays cornet with her band Tuba Skinny.

Discography As leader/co-leader Al Cohn's Tones (Savoy, 1950) East Coast-West Coast Scene (RCA Victor, 1954) split album with Shorty Rogers Mr. Music (RCA Victor, 1955) The Natural Seven (RCA Victor, 1955) That Old Feeling (RCA Victor, 1955) Four Brass One Tenor (RCA Victor, 1955) The Brothers! (RCA Victor, 1955) with Bill Perkins and Richie Kamuca From A to...Z (RCA Victor, 1956) The Al Cohn/Zoot Sims Sextet The Sax Section (Epic, 1956) Cohn on the Saxophone (Dawn Records, 1956) The Al Cohn Quintet Featuring Bobby Brookmeyer (Coral, 1956) – with Bob Brookmeyer Tenor Conclave (Prestige, 1957) – with John Coltrane, Hank Mobley and Zoot Sims The Four Brothers... Together Again! (Vik, 1957) with Serge Chaloff, Zoot Sims and Herbie Steward Al and Zoot (Coral, 1957) with Zoot Sims Jazz Alive! A Night at the Half Note (United Artists, 1959) with Zoot Sims and Phil Woods You 'n' Me (Mercury, 1960) – the Al Cohn/Zoot Sims Quintet Son of Drum Suite (RCA Victor, 1960) Either Way (Fred Miles Presents, 1961) with Zoot Sims Jazz Mission to Moscow (Colpix, 1962) Al & Zoot in London (World Records Club, 1965) Easy as Pie: Live at the West Bank (Label M, 1968) with Zoot Sims Body and Soul (Muse, 1973) with Zoot Sims Motoring Along (Sonet, 1974) with Zoot Sims Play It Now (Xanadu, 1975) True Blue (Xanadu, 1976) with Dexter Gordon Silver Blue (Xanadu, 1976) with Dexter Gordon Al Cohn's America (Xanadu, 1976) Heavy Love (Xanadu, 1977) with Jimmy Rowles No Problem (Xanadu, 1979) Xanadu in Africa (Xanadu, 1980 ) with Billy Mitchell, Dolo Coker, Leroy Vinnegar and Frank Butler Night Flight to Dakar (Xanadu, 1980 ) with Billy Mitchell, Dolo Coker, Leroy Vinnegar and Frank Butler Nonpareil (Concord, 1981) with Lou Levy, Monty Budwig, Jake Hanna Tour De Force (1981) live in Japan, with tenor players Buddy Tate and Scott Hamilton Standards of Excellence (Concord, 1984) The Claw (Chiaroscuro, 1986) with Flip Philips Rifftide (Timeless, 1987) with Rein de Graaf (piano), Koos Serierse (bass), Eric Ineke (drums)

As sideman With Manny Albam The Drum Suite (RCA Victor, 1956) with Ernie WilkinsWith Mose Allison Your Mind Is on Vacation (Atlantic, 1976)With Trigger Alpert Trigger Happy! (Riverside, 1956) also released as East Coast SoundsWith George Barnes Guitars Galore (Mercury, 1961)With Art Blakey Art Blakey Big Band (Bethlehem, 1957)With Bob Brookmeyer Bob Brookmeyer featuring Al Cohn (Storyville, 1954) Brookmeyer (Vik, 1956) Kansas City Revisited (United Artists, 1958) Stretching Out (United Artists, 1958) with Zoot Sims Portrait of the Artist (Atlantic, 1960) Gloomy Sunday and Other Bright Moments (Verve, 1961)With Kenny Burrell Earthy (Prestige, 1957)With Buck ClaytonHow Hi the Fi (Columbia, 1954) Jumpin' at the Woodside (Columbia, 1955)With Miles DavisThe Compositions of Al Cohn (Prestige, 1953) Miles Davis and Horns (Prestige, 1956)With Jimmy Giuffre The Music Man (Atlantic, 1958)With Freddie Green Mr. Rhythm (RCA Victor, 1955)With Urbie GreenAll About Urbie Green and His Big Band (ABC-Paramount, 1956)With Coleman HawkinsThe Hawk in Hi Fi (RCA Victor, 1956)With Woody Herman The Thundering Herds (Columbia, 1945-1947 ) Keeper Of The Flame (The Complete Capitol Recordings Of The Four Brothers Band) (Capitol, 1948-1949 )With Quincy JonesQuincy Plays for Pussycats (Mercury, 1959-65 )With Jack Kerouac Blues and Haikus (1960)With Jimmy KnepperCunningbird (SteepleChase, 1976)With Mundell Lowe Satan in High Heels (Charlie Parker, 1961) soundtrackWith the Metronome All-Stars Metronome All-Stars 1956 (Clef, 1956) With Gary McFarland The Jazz Version of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying" (Verve, 1962)With Carmen McRae Birds of a Feather (Decca, 1958)With Gerry Mulligan The Gerry Mulligan Songbook (World Pacific, 1957)With Joe Newman All I Wanna Do Is Swing (RCA Victor, 1955) I'm Still Swinging (RCA Victor, 1955) Salute to Satch (RCA Victor, 1956)With Oscar Pettiford Oscar Pettiford Sextet (Vogue, 1954)With Lalo Schifrin and Bob Brookmeyer Samba Para Dos (1963, Verve)

As arranger With Maynard FergusonCome Blow Your Horn (Cameo, 1963) [1 track]With Astrud Gilberto Look to the Rainbow (Verve, 1966)With Quincy Jones The Birth of a Band! (Mercury, 1959) The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones (Mercury, 1959)With Irene KralThe Band and I (United Artists, 1958) SteveIreneo! (United Artists, 1959)With Gerry Mulligan Holliday with Mulligan (DRG, 1961 ) with Judy HollidayWith Mark Murphy That's How I Love the Blues! (Riverside, 1962)With Joe Newman The Happy Cats (Coral, 1957)With Herb Pomeroy'''The Band and I'' (United Artists, 1958) with Irene Kral

References

External links Al Cohn recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings. Al Cohn's daughter remembers her father