Ryan Cohan is a talented pianist and arranger/composer whose music stretches the modern mainstream of jazz. While one can hear the influence of
Herbie Hancock and, to a lesser extent,
Chick Corea,
Cohan mostly displays his own personality in his playing and especially in his writing. For this sextet date (the two percussionists are only on two pieces while
James Cammack and
Larry Cohen split the bass chair),
Cohan's writing frequently makes the group sound larger than a three-horn ensemble. The versatility of
Bob Sheppard and
Geof Bradfield, who between them play seven instruments, is a major asset.
Cohan contributes four modern pieces (all of which clock in between seven and eight minutes), takes "Lush Life" as a piano solo, and displays some of his most colorful writing on the last five selections, which together form "One Sky: Tone Poems for Humanity." Excellent music, well worth several listens.