Al Cohn
b. 24 November 1925, New York City, New York, USA, d. 15 February 1988. As a teenager Cohn gained experience playing the tenor saxophone with Joe Marsala and Georgie Auld, for whom he also arranged. A forward-thinking musician, Cohn worked extensively in big bands during the mid-late '40s, most famously as a member of Woody Herman's Four Brothers band. He continued to perform, and write for, big bands, including those of Artie Shaw and Elliot Lawrence, with whom he was associated for a substantial part of the '50s. In 1957 Cohn teamed up with Zoot Sims, a partnership that lasted into the '80s. During this period he also worked as leader of small groups and as a touring soloist. Cohn's writing continued throughout this time and he was responsible for scoring a number of stage musicals. A warm-toned melodic player, Cohn was stylistically in the mould of Lester Young but incorporated into his music many elements that were his own. Respected in jazz circles for his playing, he was also very popular with musicians for his ready wit. Towards the end of his life he sometimes worked with his guitarist son, Joe.