I’m happy to share a video of “Twilight,” a movement from my new project Prism, recorded at Studio5 (with much appreciation to Studio5 Artistic Director and Co-Founder Steve Rashid for the video production and to Sam Fishkin for the live sound).

Prism had a full and memorable premiere week recently, with performances at Studio5, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, and workshops at Oak Park and River Forest High School and St. Charles North High School. Debuting this project in a variety of concert and educational settings was a truly special experience.

I had the great pleasure of making this music with a phenomenal group of musicians: John Wojciechowski, Lorin Cohen, George Fludas, and the KAIA String Quartet — Victoria Moreira, Naomi Culp, James Kang, and Hope Decelle. Their artistry and dedication elevated this music beyond what I imagined.

A very special thank you to Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Foundation, whose commissioning support helped bring this work to life.

More to come…

I’m thrilled to share that this month I will premiere my latest project, Prism — commissioned by Chamber Music America (my fourth commission from them).

This new multi-movement work will be performed by my freshly formed ensemble, Two Quartets, featuring John Wojciechowski on woodwinds, Lorin Cohen on bass, George Fludas on drums, Victoria Moreira on violin, Naomi Culp on violin, James Kang on viola and Hope Decelle on cello.

We’ll be presenting two public concerts of this globally inspired chamber jazz composition — Studio5 Performing Arts Center on Friday, September 26 and The Hyde Park Jazz Festival on Saturday, September 27 — as well as two performances + educational events in schools, bringing this music to a wider community of listeners.

I can’t wait for you to experience Prism — a project that brings together my long-standing jazz quartet with my collaborators from Originations, the brilliant KAIA String Quartet.  

I hope you will join us!

Had a wonderful experience at the world premiere of my new orchestral work In Footsteps of Titans with The Symphonic Jazz Orchestra after winning the SJO’s 8th Annual George Duke Commissioning Prize. It was a memorable concert to a large enthusiastic crowd at The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center on a program that also featured great performances by Clarice Assad and Justo Almario debuting a new arrangement by Francisco Torres. Click photos below for a taste of the music…

My new solo vibraphone arrangement of Kampala Moon from my hour-long suite ‘The River’ is now available! Written for four mallets, it is a short concert piece intended for professional players and students. I was fortunate to have my good friend, the wonderful vibraphonist Christos Rafalides record a gorgeous reading of this arrangement which you can hear below and see a preview of the music by clicking the image below.

Contact me here to request the download link for the .pdf chart. 

Chamber Music America spoke with Ryan Cohan about his journey as a composer, his experiences on the road and what he’s been up to with his 2023 grant supported by CMA and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Cohan is among the first two composers in the history of the New Jazz Works program to win the highly competitive commissioning award four times.

CLICK HERE to read the full interview.