Wikipedia
The 3 Cohens represents a singular artistic vision born from shared roots and familial musical connection. Comprised of siblings Avishai Cohen (trumpet), Anat Cohen (clarinet and saxophones), and Yuval Cohen (soprano saxophone), the trio emerged from Tel Aviv, where all three were born and raised in Israel's vibrant jazz landscape.
The Cohen siblings' journey into jazz began early, shaped by both family influence and formal training. Anat Cohen, born in 1975, commenced her clarinet studies at age twelve with Jaffa Conservatory's Dixieland band, later attending the Yellin School in 1991. Following military service from 1993 to 1995, she pursued advanced studies at Berklee College of Music from 1996 to 1999, where she developed the sophisticated musicianship that would define the trio's sound.
This foundation—combining Israeli cultural heritage with rigorous jazz education—distinguishes the 3 Cohens from groups that merely reference Middle Eastern themes. Their connection to the region is deeply personal and foundational, rooted in lived experience rather than artistic appropriation or thematic exploration.
Since their formation, the 3 Cohens have recorded four studio albums: One (2003), Braid (2007), Family (2011), and Tightrope (2013). The ensemble earned significant recognition, including a DownBeat cover feature in January 2012. Their career continues to evolve with recent collaborative projects, including Interaction, a live album recorded with the WDR Big Band in 2022 and released in 2025 on Anzic Records—a label co-founded by Anat Cohen herself.
While each sibling maintains an individual creative practice within New York's jazz community, their collaborative work preserves and celebrates the Israeli heritage that remains central to their artistic identity.
