Emmet Cohen Trio at Wigmore Hall

"It was one of those rare pearls, pressed in the dark clam of the pandemic free jam sessions live-streamed from Cohen's Harlem apartment. Every week, the Trio's joyful tones (with then-bassist Russel Hall and drummer Kyle Poole) buzzed from devices around the world. Emmet Cohen's front room became a hotbed of generously performed jazz standards and new compositions. As lockdown eased, the Emmet's Place performers diversified and its visual slickness, set design and musicians' haircuts improved."

"Emmet Cohen is all smiles in these videos maestro of the music itself, but also of creating the kind of space musicians need to loosen up, play freely, forget the (virtual) audience. Emmet Cohen's online platform has a genuine stake in the so-called jazz revival. Today, jazz is streamed, shared and fronted by young artists with new things to say."

"I sat down in Wigmore Hall with the Trio's trend-setting significance in mind. Joey Ranieri (bass) and Joe Farnsworth (percussion) joined Cohen on stage for a set that defied neat labels. Moving from recognisable ballads (If You Could See Me Now') to Cuban dance numbers (La Comparsa') to stripped-back stride piano, the band travelled through styles and genres with grace. Cohen's classical training inflected recognisable tunes with the grandeur of European romanticism."

Emmet Cohen concluded five years of Live From Emmet's Place and now tours with drummer Joe Farnsworth and bassist Joey Ranieri. The series began as free weekly jam sessions live-streamed from Cohen's Harlem apartment during the pandemic, featuring Trio performances with then-bassist Russel Hall and drummer Kyle Poole. The broadcasts became a hotbed of jazz standards and new compositions, later improving in visual production and attracting viewership and acclaim. The platform showcased rising talents such as Samara Joy alongside veterans like Houston Person and Joe Lovano. Cohen created a relaxed space for musicians to play freely. The touring Trio presented diverse repertoire at Wigmore Hall, moving across ballads, Cuban dance numbers and stride piano, with Cohen's classical training adding romantic grandeur.

Read at www.london-unattached.com