Greg Cohen - Biography

A native of Los Angeles, bassist Greg Cohen has been playing in various acclaimed music groups since the '60s. He is perhaps best known for his work with John Zorn's Masada quartet; more recently he has been touring with Ornette Coleman, and performed on Coleman's much-praised Sound Grammar album.

Cohen's experience reaches far beyond any one style or genre. He has worked with musicians such as Tom Waits, David Byrne, and Elvis Costello. His bass playing credits include work with artists such as Dagmar Krause, David Sanborn, Susana Baca, Gal Costa, Marisa Monte, Laurie Anderson, Willie Nelson, Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, Dave Douglas, Misha Mengelberg, Tricky, Jesse Harris, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts, Joey Baron, Donovan, Crystal Gayle, Bob Dylan, Alan Watts, Lee Konitz, Richie Havens, Dino Saluzzi, Lou Reed, Marianne Faithfull, Odetta, Fiona Apple, Danny Barker, Tim Sparks, and Antony and the Johnsons.

He has also often played traditional jazz, including work with Ken Peplowski, Kenny Davern, Marty Grosz and the filmmaker/clarinettist Woody Allen.

Cohen has composed for the Lincoln Center Theater, among others, and collaborated on film score arrangements for such movies as Ed Wood and Fried Green Tomatoes.

In August/September 2006 he was musical director of the Century of Song series at the German arts festival RuhrTriennale. He invited songwriters and performers such as David Byrne, Holly Cole and Laurie Anderson.

Greg Cohen is a regular member of Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band, which plays every Monday evening at Manhattan's Carlyle Hotel. He appears in the documentary film Wild Man Blues (directed by Barbara Kopple). Cohen appears in Robert Altman's "Short Cuts" (1993).

Cohen is a bass professor at the Jazz Institute Berlin.

Select discography

With Masada

• Masada: Alef (1994; DIW)
• Masada: Beit (1994; DIW)
• Masada: Gimel (1994; DIW)
• Masada: Dalet (1994; DIW)
• Bar Kokhba (1994–96; Tzadik)
• Masada: Hei (1995; DIW)
• Masada: Vav (1995; DIW)
• Masada: Zayin (1996; DIW)
• Masada: Het (1996; DIW)
• Masada: Tet (1997; DIW)
• Masada: Yod (1997; DIW)
• First Live 1993 (2002; Tzadik)
• Live in Jerusalem 1994 (1997; Tzadik)
• Live in Taipei 1995 (1997; Tzadik)
• The Circle Maker (1998; Tzadik)
• Live in Middleheim 1999 (1999; Tzadik)
• Live in Sevilla 2000 (2000; Tzadik)
• Live at Tonic 2001 (2001; Tzadik)

With Kenny Davern and Ken Peplowski

• The Jazz KENnection (Arbors Records)

With Dave Douglas

• Charms of the Night Sky

appears on Tom Waits albums

• Heartattack and Vine
• Swordfishtrombones
• Rain Dogs
• Franks Wild Years
• The Black Rider
• Mule Variations
• Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards