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Emmet Cohen has one foot in the tradition, and another in the future
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Within about a week of home quarantine in March 2020, pianist
Emmet Cohen
pianob.1990
At first it was just Cohen and his bandmates, drummer
Kyle Poole
drums
Russell Hall
bass
Cyrille Aimée
vocalsb.1984
Since then, Emmet's Place has become a kind of jazz incubator in New York; featured guests have included legends like
Houston Person
saxophone, tenorb.1934
Victor Lewis
drumsb.1950
Joe Lovano
drumsb.1952
Sheila Jordan
vocals1928 - 2025
Randy Brecker
trumpetb.1945
Regina Carter
violinb.1966
Christian McBride
bassb.1972
Nicholas Payton
trumpetb.1973
Cohen has one foot planted in the future and the other in the past. Maybe that's why he chose to call his most recent record Future Stride: as a nod to the stride piano that he loves and the modern world in which he lives.
That tension between these two impulses, the old school and the new, is at the heart of the Emmet Cohen phenomenon. He's deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, and believes in the importance of oral history and intergenerational connection. When he was in his 20s (not so long ago!) he made a series of albums, live interviews, and performances featuring jazz masters
Jimmy Cobb
drums1929 - 2020
Ron Carter
bassb.1937
Benny Golson
saxophone, tenor1929 - 2024
Albert Tootie Heath
drums1935 - 2024
George Coleman
saxophone, tenorb.1935
Meanwhile, he's an active digital citizen. He was quick to embrace streaming, NFTs, and direct-to-fan connection. (He offers a subscription service to his fans to support his work directly.) He's a product of the 21st century and he understands how to thrive in both physical and virtual space.
We got together recently to talk about how he straddles the line between tradition and modernity, starting out as a prodigy in Miami, being a "repertory player," his community in Harlem, "blues therapy" and the common lesson he learned from all his mentors.
The Third Story is made in partnership with WBGO Studios.
Tags
Radio & Podcasts
Emmet Cohen
Leo Sidran
Kyle Poole
Russell Hall
Cyrille Aimee
Houston Person
Victor Lewis
joe lovano
Sheila Jordan
randy brecker
Regina Carter
Christian McBride
Nicholas Payton
Jimmy Cobb
Ron Carter
benny golson
Albert "Tootie" Heath
George Coleman
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