SUMMIT JAZZ ALLSTARS
John Cocuzzi - Piano, Vibes
Anat Cohen- Reeds
Jerry Krahn- Guitar, Banjo
Paul Keller- Bass
Joe Ascione - Drums
JOHN COCUZZI,
piano, vibes
Sacramento, CA
John is recognized by many as one of the most versatile, talented and exciting musicians to come along for quite awhile. The early years of his musical career were spent playing the drums and piano, but he has since earned a reputation as the East Coast's premier swing vibraphonist. When not playing festivals and jazz parties in the U.S. and abroad, you can catch him on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the 219 Restaurant in historic Old Town Alexandria VA. He currently has two shows running on the BET jazz network/the Jazz Central show. John has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Corcoran art gallery, the Smithsonian, the National Press Club, the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore and Washington DC's premier jazz club Blues Club.
New York City, NY
Idiomatically conversant with modern and traditional jazz, classical
music, Brazilian choro, Argentine tango and an expansive timeline of
Afro-Cuban styles, Anat has established herself as one of the primary
voices of her generation on both the tenor saxophone and clarinet since
arriving in New York in 1998. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, she grew up
with musical siblings - her older brother is a saxophonist of note and
her younger brother one of New York's busiest trumpeters. After
graduating from a prestigious high school for the arts where she majored
in jazz, she discharged her mandatory Israeli military service from
1993-95 playing tenor saxophone in the Israeli Air Force band. Next she
was off to Boston to attend Berkley College of Music and during those
years she visited New York City often to soak up the hybrid of grooves,
world music and mainstream jazz that was evolving. It was during this
time that Anat was exposed to Brazilian music and exposed her to choro,
a particularly challenging musical genre.
Anat is a member of The Choro Ensemble, the New York Samba Jazz, and The
Three Cohens (with her brothers). She has long held the lead tenor
chair in Sherrie Maricle's Diva Jazz Orchestra, the top-shelf all woman
big band, with which she has toured the world. Since 2004 she has
played the music of Louis Armstrong with David Ostwald's "Gully Low Jazz
Band" and has explored the music of Bix Beiderbecke, Jelly Roll Morton,
Sidney Bechet and their Pan-American contemporaries. Her playing and
studying of a wide range of musical styles has culminated in her finding
her own distinctive musical voice. She documented her bona fides on her
debut CD "Place and Time" one of All About Jazz-New York's "Best Debut
Albums of 2005. On her strikingly original 2007 releases "Noir" and "Poetica",
she references many of the musical influences that have combined to
create her tonal personality.
Nashville, TN
Jerry brings a rich personal and musical background to the stage. His varied musical stylings, lyrical melodies and thoughtful improvising intrigue and entertain listeners around the country and the world. Born in 1953, the Wisconsin native enjoyed the ethnic and robust sounds of polka music. This deeply rooted style tugged at his heart more than the milk and cheese from the dairy barn. At ten years o age the musical road quickly led to becoming a fixture on that scene.
The road to becoming a journeyman musician included studies at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and concentrated lessons in a variety of styles. This pursuit led to stints in show bands, USO tours, country and pop bands. A move to Nashville in 1990 led Jerry to the Opryland Theme Park where he honed his Dixieland and trad jazz skills on the plectrum banjo and archtop guitar. His association with the many fine jazz players in Music City transpired into a hookup with the Titan Hot Seven Jazz Band of which he is a member. That "hot jazz" band performs at jazz festivals throughout the country and around the world.
Ypsilanti, MI
Paul
began studying string bass at age 12 and played his first jazz gigs in
his hometown of Grand Rapids MI at age 16. He pursued a classical music
education at the University of Michigan. Today he is one of the busiest
jazz bassists in the Detroit Area and has earned the nickname "The House
Bass Player for the State of Michigan" as each year he logs so many
miles traveling across the state to perform at various music venues. At
his home base, the Firefly Club in Ann Arbor, he leads his 15-piece Paul
Keller Orchestra which plays original, obscure and classic big band
material from all periods of jazz history. Under his expert leadership,
the PKO has garnered critical and popular acclaim. Paul is co-leader of
the popular Keller/Kocher Quartet that have been together since 1987.
The Paul Keller Ensemble is a three horn sextet that features creative
arrangements by Keller and his band mates. His various groups are well
known and highly regarded throughout Michigan and have appeared at many
regional music festivals.
Paul has been recognized internationally for his association with
pianist/singer Diana Krall and guitarist Russell Malone. From 1993 to
1997 he toured the world, first with Malone, then with Krall and
Malone. Together they performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival, the
Blue Note Jazz Clubs of Japan, the Algonquin Hotel and the JVC, Newport
and Playboy Jazz Festivals, among many others. In 2006 he performed
with Diana Krall for former US President Bill Clinton as well as on "The
Late Show with David Letterman", "The Late Late Show with Craig
Ferguson", "The Tavis Smiley Show ", and the "Tonight Show with Jay
Leno". He appears on Malone's CD Black Butterfly and Krall's
Grammy-nominated recording All For You.
In 1999 Paul formed his own recording label (PKO Records) and has grown
to include 36 CDs by Keller and many other outstanding Midwest jazz
performers.
