Joe Cohen - Saxophonist

Joe Cohen has been an active member of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene for over 12 years.

Raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Joe is a graduate of the University of Miami Studio Music & Jazz program. He performs locally and abroad, works as a studio musician and teaches privately. In addition to playing the soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, Joe plays piano, flute, and clarinet. He has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with such notable performers as Bobby McFerrin, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Idris Muhammed, Lyrics Born, KRS-One, Michael Franti, Thomas Dolby, Lavay Smith, Peter Rowan, Booker T. Jones, Galactic, Digital Underground, Abstract Rude, Soulive, Eric Lindell, and Russell Batiste among others.

Joe does frequent studio session work and has appeared on recordings with Thomas Dolby, Lyrics Born, Zion-I, Ray Obiedo, and many others. Touring highlights include multiple domestic tours with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, Thomas Dolby, The Jazz Mafia and a successful tour with blues artist E.C. Scott.

Joe is a founding member of the Bay Area's Jazz Mafia, which includes The Realstic Orchestra, The Shotgun Wedding Quintet, Brass Mafia, and The Shotgun Wedding Hip-Hop Symphony. The Realistic Orchestra was nominated for Best Jazz Group in the SF Weekly's Best of the Bay in 2003 and won the award for Best Jazz Group in 2004. Joe also plays an important part in other Bay Area Bands such as Oscar Meyers' Steppin', Wil Blades, Pamela Rose, Phil Lorenz's Soultet.