With Lorin Cohen and Joel Rosenblatt

Jim Ridl is in high demand as a New York City jazz pianist, composer, teacher and band leader. His ongoing residency at the internationally known jazz club The 55 Bar is in its fifth year, where he and his quartet perform his original compositions monthly. Jim performs worldwide with a variety of jazz artists, including The Joe Locke Quartet, The Dave Liebman Big Band, The Paul Jost Quartet and the Mingus Big Band. He has toured with the US State Department American Music Abroad program (’12 and ’15), performing in Russia, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Slovenia and Malta. As a composer and leader, Jim has released 7 recordings, the latest titled Door in a Field,Volume 2. Jim was a Princeton University Visiting Artist for three separate semesters (’12, ’14, ’16), coaching jazz ensembles in repertoire and performance. Jim continues as adjunct educator in Jazz Piano Studies at The City College of New York and the New York Jazz Workshop in Manhattan. From 1994 – 2004, Jim performed with jazz guitar legend Pat Martino, receiving critically acclaimed reviews of performances around the world, and producing four outstanding recordings: Interchange, Night Wings, The Maker and Nexus. Jim was raised on a farm and ranch in North Dakota, and discovered his love for piano and jazz at an early age. He attended the University of Colorado at Denver, where he earned his Bachelor Degree in Scoring and Arranging, and was awarded its Student Achievement Award for composing “Ocean Sojourn,” an orchestral tone poem, performed with the Denver Symphony Orchestra, James Setapen conducting.

Joel Rosenblatt is a world renowned drummer and producer. He has performed and recorded with such greats as: Spyro Gyra, Special EFX, Lee Ritenour, Freddy Jackson, Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, Eileen Ivers, Michel Camilo, Chick Corea, Steps Ahead, Paquito d' Rivera,Manhattan Transfer, Randy Brecker, Ken Navarro, Bill Evans and many more. Having toured the world many times over, Joel brings an international musical awareness to the music. Currently the owner and main engineer at world class Cliff Sound Productions, Joel is also actively involved in producing and cultivating new artists.

Lorin Cohen’s work as a bassist and composer has resonated with audiences throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
Currently based in NYC, the Chicago-bred bassist has shared his talents withnumerous jazz luminaries, including Monty Alexander, Joe Locke, Steve Wilson,Geoffrey Keezer, and Victor Lewis, to name a few.
His most recent release, HOME, received wide critical acclaim, including a fourstarreview in Downbeat magazine.
Cohen’s musical experiences are not limited to the world of Jazz. Equally adept onthe bass guitar as well as the upright bass, he played in the Broadway productionof “Motown: The Musical”, as well as Chicago run of “Jersey Boys”. His grooves,original songs, and talents as a producer can be heard in the work of the bandVertikal.
Lorin teaches jazz studies at the City University of New York.