[Dixielandjazz] Sonny Cohn - RIP

[Stan Brager]

Sonny Cohn, the trumpeter whose distinctive sound graced many of the Basie
recordings from the sixties through the 1990s has passed away. Here's the
obit from the Chicago Sun Times:

Stan
Stan Brager
..............................................
Played trumpet with jazz greats
(http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/135073,CST-NWS-xcohn14.article)

November 14, 2006

BY SCOTT FORNEK Staff Reporter
Ten years ago, when George "Sonny" Cohn played trumpet as a sideman on a
record by jazz pianist Jodie Christian, Mr. Cohn had already traveled the
world with Count Basie, played behind such legends as Ella Fitzgerald and
Frank Sinatra, and appeared on more than 185 albums.

"You could see he was getting older, but he gave us his heart and soul and
probably some of his future," said Bob Koester, owner of Delmark Records and
the Jazz Record Mart. "I wanted to do an album featuring him, but it just
never happened."

Mr. Cohn, 81, died Nov. 7 at Mercy Hospital.

He was never a household name, but jazz musicians and fans knew Mr. Cohn for
his trademark muted style as first trumpet in the Count Basie Orchestra. He
was best known for his work on Basie's recordings of "April in Paris" and
"Li'l Darling."

"He was tops," said Frances Swope, 83, his older sister. "He was a top
trumpet player and highly respected by his compadres. He was clean cut and
didn't drink or smoke -- and that was rare for a musician."

A South Side resident, Mr. Cohn was a native Chicagoan who grew up on the
West Side. He took up the trumpet at the age of 9, using a horn his postal
worker father owned.

"You kind of suspected he was going to be great one day," his sister said. "
'A budding genius' is what his teacher said about him."


Joined orchestra in 1960
In his teens, Mr. Cohn played in his piano-playing sister's band, Frances
and her Rhythm Kings. The third member of the trio was drummer George
Rhodes, who would later join Sammy Davis Jr. as musical director.
In 1945, Mr. Cohn teamed up with drummer Red Saunders, playing in his sextet
and later orchestra. It was while Mr. Cohn was playing with Saunders that he
caught the ear of Basie, who persuaded him to join the legendary swing
orchestra in 1960.

Eventually, Mr. Cohn became Basie's first trumpet and road manager and
handled some of the arrangements.

"He was a good trumpet player," Koester said. "I don't know that he took
many solos, but every time I heard him solo, I was delighted."

Mr. Cohn appears on more than 185 albums, including "Basie and Sinatra Live
at the Sands" and "Ella and Basie." He is also featured in numerous books
about jazz, including Trumpet Kings: The Players Who Shaped the Sound of
Jazz Trumpet.

Author Scott Yanow writes that Mr. Cohn was one of "Count Basie's most loyal
sidemen" and "a reliable bop-based soloist."

"He was not famous -- except among musicians," Koester said.


Final recording with niece
Beyond Sinatra and Fitzgerald, the list of musical icons Mr. Cohn played
with while with Basie or in session work includes Dinah Washington, Sarah
Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Quincy Jones and Sammy Davis Jr. In 1975, he played
before Queen Elizabeth II.
"He just enjoyed life," Swope said. "Every place he went, he brought us
souvenirs from all over the world."

Mr. Cohn stayed on after Basie's death in 1984, but he retired from the
orchestra in the 1990s. After that he played with the Morris Ellis Band and
with tenor saxophonist Von Freeman.

About three years ago, Mr. Cohn had heart bypass surgery, but he soon
resumed playing. His last recording was the trumpet solo on "Praise His Holy
Name" on the "Living for the Lord" spiritual CD recorded by his niece,
Sheryl Swope-DuPree in 2004.

Mr. Cohn's wife, Loraine Winters, and their daughter, Carola Cohn Morris,
both died earlier.

In addition to his sister, survivors include a granddaughter.

Services have been held.

sfornek at suntimes.com