Sonny Cohn dies

[brownie]

Sad to report the death of Sonny Cohn who was one of the most effective - and little known - musicians that contributed so much to the sound of the Count Basie band!

From the Chicago Sun-Times today:

  Quote

PLAYED TRUMPET WITH JAZZ GREATS

(http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/135073,CST-NWS-xcohn14.article)

November 14, 2006

BY SCOTT FORNEK Staff Reporter

Ten years ago, when George "Sonny" Cohn played trumpet as a sideman on a record by jazz pianist Jodie Christian, Mr. Cohn had already traveled the world with Count Basie, played behind such legends as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, and appeared on more than 185 albums.

"You could see he was getting older, but he gave us his heart and soul and probably some of his future," said Bob Koester, owner of Delmark Records and the Jazz Record Mart. "I wanted to do an album featuring him, but it just never happened."

Mr. Cohn, 81, died Nov. 7 at Mercy Hospital.

He was never a household name, but jazz musicians and fans knew Mr. Cohn for his trademark muted style as first trumpet in the Count Basie Orchestra. He was best known for his work on Basie's recordings of "April in Paris" and "Li'l Darling."

"He was tops," said Frances Swope, 83, his older sister. "He was a top trumpet player and highly respected by his compadres. He was clean cut and didn't drink or smoke -- and that was rare for a musician."

A South Side resident, Mr. Cohn was a native Chicagoan who grew up on the West Side. He took up the trumpet at the age of 9, using a horn his postal worker father owned.

"You kind of suspected he was going to be great one day," his sister said. " 'A budding genius' is what his teacher said about him."

Joined orchestra in 1960

In his teens, Mr. Cohn played in his piano-playing sister's band, Frances and her Rhythm Kings. The third member of the trio was drummer George Rhodes, who would later join Sammy Davis Jr. as musical director.

In 1945, Mr. Cohn teamed up with drummer Red Saunders, playing in his sextet and later orchestra. It was while Mr. Cohn was playing with Saunders that he caught the ear of Basie, who persuaded him to join the legendary swing orchestra in 1960.

Eventually, Mr. Cohn became Basie's first trumpet and road manager and handled some of the arrangements.

"He was a good trumpet player," Koester said. "I don't know that he took many solos, but every time I heard him solo, I was delighted."

Mr. Cohn appears on more than 185 albums, including "Basie and Sinatra Live at the Sands" and "Ella and Basie." He is also featured in numerous books about jazz, including Trumpet Kings: The Players Who Shaped the Sound of Jazz Trumpet.

Author Scott Yanow writes that Mr. Cohn was one of "Count Basie's most loyal sidemen" and "a reliable bop-based soloist."

"He was not famous -- except among musicians," Koester said.

Final recording with niece

Beyond Sinatra and Fitzgerald, the list of musical icons Mr. Cohn played with while with Basie or in session work includes Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Quincy Jones and Sammy Davis Jr. In 1975, he played before Queen Elizabeth II.

"He just enjoyed life," Swope said. "Every place he went, he brought us souvenirs from all over the world."

Mr. Cohn stayed on after Basie's death in 1984, but he retired from the orchestra in the 1990s. After that he played with the Morris Ellis Band and with tenor saxophonist Von Freeman.

About three years ago, Mr. Cohn had heart bypass surgery, but he soon resumed playing. His last recording was the trumpet solo on "Praise His Holy Name" on the "Living for the Lord" spiritual CD recorded by his niece, Sheryl Swope-DuPree in 2004.

Mr. Cohn's wife, Loraine Winters, and their daughter, Carola Cohn Morris, both died earlier.

In addition to his sister, survivors include a granddaughter.

Services have been held.

[Larry Kart]

On that new Jazz Icons "Count Basie -- Live on '62" DVD, Cohn is featured in lovely form on "You Are Too Beautiful." Stays pretty close to the melody, but his tone is a story in itself -- like a mountain stream.

[sheldonm]

  brownie said:

Sad to report the death of Sonny Cohn who was one of the most effective - and little known - musicians that contributed so much to the sound of the Count Basie band!

From the Chicago Sun-Times today:

  Quote

PLAYED TRUMPET WITH JAZZ GREATS

(http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/135073,CST-NWS-xcohn14.article)

November 14, 2006

BY SCOTT FORNEK Staff Reporter

Ten years ago, when George "Sonny" Cohn played trumpet as a sideman on a record by jazz pianist Jodie Christian, Mr. Cohn had already traveled the world with Count Basie, played behind such legends as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, and appeared on more than 185 albums.

"You could see he was getting older, but he gave us his heart and soul and probably some of his future," said Bob Koester, owner of Delmark Records and the Jazz Record Mart. "I wanted to do an album featuring him, but it just never happened."

Mr. Cohn, 81, died Nov. 7 at Mercy Hospital.

He was never a household name, but jazz musicians and fans knew Mr. Cohn for his trademark muted style as first trumpet in the Count Basie Orchestra. He was best known for his work on Basie's recordings of "April in Paris" and "Li'l Darling."

"He was tops," said Frances Swope, 83, his older sister. "He was a top trumpet player and highly respected by his compadres. He was clean cut and didn't drink or smoke -- and that was rare for a musician."

A South Side resident, Mr. Cohn was a native Chicagoan who grew up on the West Side. He took up the trumpet at the age of 9, using a horn his postal worker father owned.

"You kind of suspected he was going to be great one day," his sister said. " 'A budding genius' is what his teacher said about him."

Joined orchestra in 1960

In his teens, Mr. Cohn played in his piano-playing sister's band, Frances and her Rhythm Kings. The third member of the trio was drummer George Rhodes, who would later join Sammy Davis Jr. as musical director.

In 1945, Mr. Cohn teamed up with drummer Red Saunders, playing in his sextet and later orchestra. It was while Mr. Cohn was playing with Saunders that he caught the ear of Basie, who persuaded him to join the legendary swing orchestra in 1960.

Eventually, Mr. Cohn became Basie's first trumpet and road manager and handled some of the arrangements.

"He was a good trumpet player," Koester said. "I don't know that he took many solos, but every time I heard him solo, I was delighted."

Mr. Cohn appears on more than 185 albums, including "Basie and Sinatra Live at the Sands" and "Ella and Basie." He is also featured in numerous books about jazz, including Trumpet Kings: The Players Who Shaped the Sound of Jazz Trumpet.

Author Scott Yanow writes that Mr. Cohn was one of "Count Basie's most loyal sidemen" and "a reliable bop-based soloist."

"He was not famous -- except among musicians," Koester said.

Final recording with niece

Beyond Sinatra and Fitzgerald, the list of musical icons Mr. Cohn played with while with Basie or in session work includes Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Quincy Jones and Sammy Davis Jr. In 1975, he played before Queen Elizabeth II.

"He just enjoyed life," Swope said. "Every place he went, he brought us souvenirs from all over the world."

Mr. Cohn stayed on after Basie's death in 1984, but he retired from the orchestra in the 1990s. After that he played with the Morris Ellis Band and with tenor saxophonist Von Freeman.

About three years ago, Mr. Cohn had heart bypass surgery, but he soon resumed playing. His last recording was the trumpet solo on "Praise His Holy Name" on the "Living for the Lord" spiritual CD recorded by his niece, Sheryl Swope-DuPree in 2004.

Mr. Cohn's wife, Loraine Winters, and their daughter, Carola Cohn Morris, both died earlier.

In addition to his sister, survivors include a granddaughter.

Services have been held.

[BeBop]

I didn't realize that he had been active so recently. I'd heard him with the Basie band (before 1984) and, frankly, wasn't sure he was still 'with us'. An enjoyable player.

[JSngry]

That type of player, the road dog who could play quality music every night while living out of a suitcase, is a thing of the past. But such beautiful things they were!

R.I.P., you lucky motherfucker!

[John L]

RIP

[Larry Kart]

To correct my own misinformation -- Sonny Cohn's lovely feature on that Basie Jazz Icons CD is "Stella By Starlight." The soloist on "You Are Too Beautiful" is tenorman Eric Dixon.

[Chuck Nessa]

sonny and shorts were chicago favorites. god bless.

[ep1str0phy]

RIP.