“As he strides through Fats Waller with his left hand while his right is tossing off shimmering passages conjuring up Duke Ellington, Earl Hines, and Art Tatum, Emmet Cohen would be the first to acknowledge he hasn’t bested these heavyweights….but by deciding to play ball, he surely honors what they have achieved.” This spot-on observation of his critically acclaimed 2019 self-release, Dirty in Detroit, is a perhaps a metaphor for his approach to music from the getgo. He comes at it from a place of humility and reverence.

After graduating from Frost School of Music, receiving his Masters from Manhattan and planting his flag where jazz found an early home—in Harlem, he set out to connect with living masters of the music with an eye toward keeping their legacy alive–for them, for us and through himself and other young players. And so he asked Jimmy Cobb, whose drum is still heard round the world on Miles Davis’ iconic best-selling-jazz album-of-all-time, Kind of Blue, a Harlem neighbor, as it turned out, if he could stop by and study with him.  The relationship that emerged between the then 20 something Cohen and the 88-year-old Cobb led to the first recording, in 2017, of a series Cohen has dubbed the Masters Legacy Series. In just three years the series has a life of its own and already includes volumes with George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Ron Carter and Benny Golson.

Here’s how Cohen describes his rationale for his signature project: “By playing with Mr. Cobb on a regular basis I absorbed something that can’t be gained from practicing my craft, listening to any recording on repeat, or reading any book or historical document. Mr. Cobb deserves to be honored for his excellence and the humanity he manifests today, not just for his work from 50 or 60 years ago. He is a living legend of the jazz world and a historical treasure.” After the record release, Emmet organized many appearances for Mr. Cobb, collecting and delivering the aging master to gigs, even helping him set up his drums, until his death this past May at 91.

Cohen, a true prodigy who began playing Suzuki piano method at age 3, went on to receive many honors along the way including his latest, the prestigious American Pianists Award in 2019. He now plays in several bands as well as his own.  A member of Christian McBride’s “Tip City” band and Herlin Riley’s Quintet, he is also music director and pianist for vocalist Veronica Swift.  Emmet is a master teacher for the YoungArts Foundation and a clinician for Lincoln Center’s Jazz for Young People.

Emmet began attending Litchfield Jazz Camp at age 15 and tells us it was there he chose his path in life as a professional jazz pianist.  He made his Litchfield Jazz Festival debut in 2013 at age 22 and  returned later bringing with him Jimmy Cobb and Jimmy Heath.  About his playing New York Times critic Giovanni Russonello noted Emmet has “a breezy command of the keyboard and a deep well of jazz references at his fingertips.” His repertoire would put any Real Book to shame.  He weaves quotes into his delivery of a classic tune like spun gold thread–shiny and precious at one go.  He is a charismatic and joyful performer.

But enough of what others say about Emmet Cohen and his music.  Here’s what he says: Jazz is “about communicating the deepest levels of humanity and individuality; it’s essentially about connections.”  And he makes them better than just about anyone playing today. He appears for Litchfield Jazz Presents with his regular drummer Kyle Poole and bassist, Russell Hall.

Emmet Cohen is a Yamaha Artist.