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.

Excited to have been awarded the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra‘s 8th Annual George Duke Commissioning Prize. This prize was created to honor the legacy of George Duke, SJO’s Co-Music Director from 2004 until his passing in 2013. Looking forward to premiering a new work composed for this wonderful 67-member jazz orchestra in their 2024-2025 concert season.