Everyone who hears her is impressed by virtuosic reed artist Anat Cohen. As one critic put it, she is “one of the brightest, most original young instrumentalists in jazz.” Winner of four consecutive Clarinet Player of the Year awards from the Jazz Journalists Association and multiple citations in Downbeat’s readers and critics polls, Israeli-born Cohen is “an artistically adventurous writer and performer” whose repertoire runs from John Coltrane and Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona to Fats Waller, Sam Cooke, and Benny Goodman.
New York based drummer and Grammy nominee Matt Wilson is one of today’s most celebrated jazz artists. He is universally recognized for his musical and melodic drumming style as well as being a gifted composer, bandleader, producer, and teaching artist. Matt’s positive energy, sense of humor and ability to explore a broad range of musical settings keeps him in constant demand. In addition, Wilson’s dedication to jazz has helped establish him as a beloved world ambassador for the music, on and off the bandstand.
Cohen, who will be playing both clarinet and tenor saxophone, says: “The music we perform…comes from the jazz tradition, but it’s very playful – we have fun with sounds and melodies, following our instincts, without over-analyzing. Matt Wilson is like a kid onstage, and that’s what I like to be – it’s great to have a partner in crime like him. Matt gets these incredible sounds from the drums…”
Lineup:
Anat Cohen – clarinet and saxophones
Matt Wilson – drums
Ken Kehner – piano
Jahmal Nichols – bass
This collaboration comes as part of the 2013 Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival presented by University of Missouri-St. Louis, Touhill Performing Arts Center, and Jazz St. Louis. Cohen and Wilson will be adjudicating student jazz combos during the day prior to their performances at Jazz at the Bistro.
