Noal Cohen's Jazz History Website

Noal Cohen's Collection of Jazz Photos

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Pee Wee Ellis on tenor saxophone and Noal Cohen on drums, probably 1956, at The University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Alfred Pee Wee Ellis has worked for many years with singer James Brown as sideman and band director and recorded as a leader for the Gramavision and Minor Music labels. Photo courtesy of Louis Ouzer. © Louis Ouzer Noal Cohen and Ron Carter at a jam session held in the student union (Todd Union) of The University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 1959. Pee Wee Ellis is the tenor saxophonist whose arm appears at the extreme right. Within a year, Carter had departed Rochester for New York to begin an illustrious recording, performing and teaching career which would eventually place him in the highest echelons of jazz bassists. Photo courtesy of Paul Hoeffler.
Oscar Peterson with some young Rochester musicians at a jam session held at The University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 1957. Left to right: Noal Cohen, drums; Chuck Mangione, trumpet; Ron Carter, bass; Waymon Reed, trumpet; Benny Salzano, tenor saxophone; Oscar Peterson, piano. The late Waymon Reed went from Rochester and the Eastman School of Music to a career which bridged jazz and rhythm and blues. He worked and recorded with Count Basie, Charlie Rouse, Eddie Jefferson, James Brown and many others. His 1977 LP for the Artists House label, 46th and 8th, with Jimmy Forrest, Tommy Flanagan, Keter Betts and Bobby Durham is a gem but, unfortunately, has not been reissued on CD. The Chuck Mangione Quintet rehearsing at Mangione's home in 1960 - Note the Dizzy Gillespie designed trumpet. Left to right: Chuck Mangione, trumpet; Larry Combs, alto saxophone; Paul Tardif, piano; Dick Samson, Bass; Noal Cohen, drums. The extremely gifted and versatile Larry Combs is prinicipal clarinetist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and has also performed with the unique Chicago jazz ensemble known as Ears. On March 5, 1999, Combs appeared in New York with the American Saxophone Quartet to premier Mike Holober's Views From a Train. He can be heard on the recently reissued Riverside album, The Jazz Brothers, with Chuck and Gap Mangione, recorded in 1960. Paul Tardif has been a member of the East Carolina University music faculty for many years as well as a free lance performer and accompanist, frequently working in the Washington, DC area. His 1995 CD, Points of Departure, on the Koch label, is definitely worth checking out. Photo courtesy of Paul Hoeffler.
Larry Covelli (ts), Larry Combs (as), Tommy Azarello (b) at the Pythodd Club, Rochester, NY, probably Fall 1960. The drummer is probably Clarence Becton and the pianist Paul Tardif. John Eckert (t) may also have been present on this gig. Larry Covelli (ts), Larry Combs (as), Tommy Azarello (b) at the Pythodd Club, Rochester, NY, probably Fall 1960. The drummer is probably Clarence Becton and the pianist Paul Tardif. John Eckert (t) may also have been present on this gig.
John Eckert (t), Paul Tardif (p), Tommy Azarello (b), Larry Covelli (ts) Probably Fall 1960 at the Pythodd Club, Rochester, NY Clarence Becton (d) Probably Fall 1960 at the Pythodd Club, Rochester, NY
Larry Covelli (ts), Tommy Azarello (b) Not shown but probably also on this gig was Larry Combs (as) Probably Fall 1960 at the Pythodd Club, Rochester, NY The Coy Shockley Quartet at the Deep Sea Restaurant, Teaneck, NJ, 1986. Left to right: Noal Cohen, drums; Jimmy Ponder, guitar; Ed Lightsey, bass; Coy Shockley, tenor saxophone. Shockley, a longtime participant in the Newark, NJ jazz scene and frequent sideman with Jimmy McGriff, passed away in 1998. He was a demanding leader with a tenor style reminiscent of people like Ike Quebec, Gene Ammons and Jimmy Forrest. Ponder is an excellent guitarist who recorded with Charles Earland, Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy McGriff and others. As a leader, he has several albums on the Milestone, Muse and High Note labels. Photo courtesy of Dr. John Partridge.
Gig on Church St., Montclair, NJ, 1991 Frank Grasso (trumpet), Doug MacDonald (guitar), Hill Greene (bass), Noal Cohen (drums) Gig on Church St., Montclair, NJ, 1991 Frank Grasso (trumpet), Doug MacDonald (guitar), Hill Greene (bass), Noal Cohen (drums)
In 1983, my wife, Ann Cohen, produced a concert for the purpose of raising money to fund the Montclair, NJ High School chapter of AFS (American Field Service). Famed Montclair residents Jackie and Roy (Jackie Cain and Roy Kral) were the featured performers accompanied by Mark Sherman (vibraphone), Keiichi Ishibashi (bass) and a drummer whose name I cannot remember. A lot of work was involved but the event was well attended and a financial success. In 1983, my wife, Ann Cohen, produced a concert for the purpose of raising money to fund the Montclair, NJ High School chapter of AFS (American Field Service). Famed Montclair residents Jackie and Roy (Jackie Cain and Roy Kral) were the featured performers accompanied by Mark Sherman (vibraphone), Keiichi Ishibashi (bass) and a drummer whose name I cannot remember. A lot of work was involved but the event was well attended and a financial success.
Recording Session at Mike Moran's Studio June 22, 1993 Left to Right: Rich Willey, Hill Greene, John DiMartino, Noal Cohen, John Eckert, Ben Salzano
Pee Wee Ellis on tenor saxophone and Noal Cohen on drums, probably 1956, at The University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Alfred Pee Wee Ellis has worked for many years with singer James Brown as sideman and band director and recorded as a leader for the Gramavision and Minor Music labels.

Pee Wee Ellis on tenor saxophone and Noal Cohen on drums, probably 1956, at The University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Alfred Pee Wee Ellis has worked for many years with singer James Brown as sideman and band director and recorded as a leader for the Gramavision and Minor Music labels.

Photo courtesy of Louis Ouzer. © Louis Ouzer

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