A powerfully expressive pianist and composer of keen intellect recognized for his "virtuosity and ingenuity" (Chicago Tribune), Ryan Cohan has released five critically acclaimed albums of original music. Always driving forward in a variety of viscerally exciting grooves, his dynamic sound at the keyboard and from his pen maintains a modern edge while infusing elements of the jazz tradition in unexpected ways.

Cohan's versatility and inventive vision have distinguished him as a vital original voice on today's global music scene and earned him the opportunity to play with numerous jazz luminaries and world-class ensembles. He is the recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in composition and Sundance Institute's 2014 Feature Film Music and Sound Design Fellowship. Cohan has performed on five continents and has led his quartet on multiple extended international tours sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and Jazz at Lincoln Center as part of a program fostering empathy and connection between cultures through music. His travels through Africa later became the inspiration for the concert-length suite featured on Cohan's much lauded 2013 recording, The River.

Cohan will perform music from his Motéma Music releases and present the world-premiere of his new multi-movement work, Originations, scored for his powerhouse jazz sextet and The Grant Street String Quartet. Featuring a dynamic synthesis of Middle Eastern and other World music influences, classical compositional elements and jazz improvisation, Originations has been made possible with support from Chamber Music America's 2014 New Jazz Works: Commissioning and Ensemble Development program funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundations.

http://ryancohan.com/