Emmet Cohen is a leading jazz pianist of his generation and a defining force in the evolution of the art form. A virtuoso musician, producer, and bandleader, he combines deep respect for jazz tradition with a singular ability to create connection, community, and momentum in the modern era. Cohen has released 12 albums as a leader and is the producer and creative force behind Live From Emmet’s Place, a landmark series comprising over 140 livestream performances featuring hundreds of musicians spanning generations and reaching more than 100 million views worldwide. Cohen has performed in over 40 countries, serves as host and programming team member of The Jazz Cruise, and he has been chosen as Artistic Partner of the 2027 American Piano Awards. He was named DownBeat Readers Poll Pianist of the Year (2025) and, in 2023, received both Pianist of the Year and Livestream Producer of the Year honors from the Jazz Journalists Association.
Emmet Cohen, DownBeat Magazine’s 2025 Pianist of the Year and critically acclaimed composer and bandleader, has been busy. Busy touring a Miles Davis & John Coltrane tribute to sold-out audiences across the world, busy running Live from Emmet’s Place as the “most highly watched regular online jazz show in the world,” and busy recording his new album, Universal Truth. With Joe Farnsworth, Yasushi Nakamura, Jeremy Pelt, Tivon Pennicott and guests Ron Carter and George Coleman, Emmet brings his celebrated tribute to the studio, pairing timeless classics (“Well You Needn’t,” “My Funny Valentine”) with new originals that honor jazz’s royalty while boldly carrying their tradition forward.