The all-star family jazz trio, The 3 Cohens—comprising Anat Cohen (clarinet), Avishai Cohen (trumpet), and Yuval Cohen (soprano saxophone)—has always found time to reunite despite their individual successes as soloists and bandleaders. Growing up in Tel Aviv, the siblings developed an innate musical connection, making improvisation a natural part of their interplay. Over a decade, they released four studio albums: One (2003), Braid (2007), Family (2011), and Tightrope (2013), with the latter three released under Anzic Records, the label Anat co-founded with producer Oded Lev-Ari. Their chemistry was so remarkable that DownBeat featured them on its January 2012 cover, praising their "alchemy, telepathy, and chemistry."
A decade later, The 3 Cohens reunited for a special collaboration with Germany’s esteemed WDR Big Band, an ensemble with a storied history of performing jazz since 1957. This partnership, featuring arrangements by Lev-Ari of compositions by each Cohen sibling, along with fresh renditions of Gerry Mulligan’s "Festive Minor" and Louis Armstrong’s "Tiger Rag," resulted in the live album Interaction. This energetic and swinging performance, recorded at the Kölner Philharmonie in June 2022, will be released digitally and on CD by Anzic Records on March 14, 2025.
Individual Achievements and a Shared Legacy
The New York Times has lauded The 3 Cohens for their "family sound" and intuitive musical interplay while celebrating their individual strengths: Anat’s warm and expressive clarinet, Avishai’s masterful command of bebop and avant-garde trumpet, and Yuval’s rich and fluid soprano saxophone. Each has made remarkable strides in their respective careers. Anat, a multiple Grammy nominee, has been recognized for her Brazilian collaborations and her acclaimed Tentet album Triple Helix. She will be featured on DownBeat’s March 2025 cover, coinciding with special performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Avishai, now a leading ECM artist, has released six albums on the prestigious label, including Ashes to Gold (2024). Meanwhile, Yuval, an award-winning educator in Israel, will debut his first ECM release, Winter Poems, in February 2025.
As a sextet, The 3 Cohens have toured extensively, from the U.S. and Europe to Brazil and Australia, selling out venues such as New York’s Village Vanguard, Vienna’s Konzerthaus, and headlining major festivals like Newport Jazz Festival and Jazz à la Villette. All About Jazz captured their dynamic, sibling-driven performances, highlighting their playful rivalries and deep musical synergy, stating, "The sextet offers fresh, modern jazz full of energy, daring, and emotion."
Their last studio album, Tightrope, featured jazz luminaries like bassist Christian McBride and pianist Fred Hersch. However, some of its most captivating moments came from The 3 Cohens performing as a horn trio, showcasing their ability to “talk without talking,” as Anat describes it. Their deep-rooted musical bond allows them to communicate effortlessly onstage, often without needing visual cues.
The WDR Big Band Collaboration: A Musical Fusion
The Interaction album captures The 3 Cohens alongside the WDR Big Band under the direction of Oded Lev-Ari. The performance includes standout pieces like Lev-Ari’s "Trills and Thrills," Avishai’s moving ballad suite "Naked Truth," Anat’s rhythmically charged "Footsteps & Smiles," and Yuval’s lively "Catch of the Day." The trio’s a cappella horn rendition of "Festive Minor" further underscores their exceptional synergy.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Yuval explains, "The way we play together is as natural as eating or laughing together. Even after a decade apart, that special magic remains from the first note to the last." Having grown up playing in big bands, each Cohen sibling felt at home within the WDR ensemble. Anat adds, "The WDR musicians are exceptional, with many doubling on multiple instruments. Oded’s arrangements allowed us to blend seamlessly while keeping our distinct voices."
Beyond the Music: A Personal Reunion
For Avishai, the project was more than a musical endeavor—it was a chance for the siblings to reconnect on a personal level. "In Germany, we had time to talk face to face about our childhood, our parents, and our lives. It was freeing, and I believe that feeling made its way into the music in the best way. Playing with the WDR ensemble felt like coming full circle, bringing back memories of when we first played in big bands as kids."
The timing of the concert, soon after the world began reopening post-pandemic, added to its significance. "Performing for a live audience again was exhilarating," Anat recalls. "The Kölner Philharmonie was packed, and you could feel the crowd’s energy building with each song. That kind of interaction—sharing music and emotions with people we love and an engaged audience—is something we never take for granted. I hope listeners can feel that same joy when they hear the album."
With Interaction, The 3 Cohens reaffirm their extraordinary sibling connection, seamlessly blending past experiences with fresh musical perspectives. This latest chapter in their journey showcases not only their individual artistry but also their unparalleled synergy as a family united by jazz.
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