Ethan Cohn is a bass player, composer, improvisor, and educator born and raised in New York City. Known for his versatility across genres and his love of musical cross-pollination, his work reflects his sponge-like capacity to absorb and integrate his many interests into one unified, authentic voice. Ethan has performed with groups from all over the musical map, carving a distinct voice for himself through his clear sound, strong groove, and consistently melodic approach to playing the bass. He is currently interested in the potential of electronics as both a compositional tool and an interface for live performers and improvisors.

Though he began by playing the cello as a reluctant child thrown into the rigorous classical music world, he discovered his true love of music as a teenager by playing along with his favorite albums on the electric bass and guitar. He gained a foundation on the acoustic bass throughout high school, studying classical bass at Juilliard’s Precollege program. He soon began composing his own music, and at the age of 18 was awarded the opportunity to write an orchestral piece for the New York Philharmonic as part of their Very Young Composers program.

Ethan went on to study at McGill University, where he graduated with a major in jazz bass performance and a minor in computer science. He remained in Montreal for the next three years, quickly becoming a staple of the local music scene. He began traveling frequently to take part in residencies and festivals including the Banff Workshop for Jazz & Creative Music, the Generations International Jazz Festival, and the Umbria Jazz Festival. It was during this time that he founded The Plastic Waste Band, a psychedelic jazz-rock group known for their commitment to environmental conservation and their refreshingly accessible yet rule-breaking approach to composed and improvised music. Ethan has released three albums of his original music as leader and bassist of The Plastic Waste Band.

In 2020, Ethan was selected to be a part of the Focusyear band, an 8-piece international jazz ensemble located in Basel, Switzerland. Over the course of a year, he and the band worked with many of today’s luminaries in jazz and creative music: Kurt Rosenwinkel, Lionel Loueke, Guillermo Klein, Jen Shyu, Miguel Zenon, Sam Amidon, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Ingrid Jensen, Brad Mehldau, and others. He also studied privately with Larry Grenadier, one of his heroes of the upright bass. Ethan recorded an album with the Focusyear band, and proceeded to tour throughout Switzerland, Spain, Ukraine, Germany, and Austria. 

In the fall of 2021, Ethan moved back to his home of New York to complete his master’s studies at The New School’s Performer-Composer program. This interdisciplinary program allowed him to explore his longtime interest in the intersection of art and technology and delve into the world of electroacoustic music, which has become a significant part of his practice. He was hired as a research assistant by percussionist and electronic musician Levy Lorenzo to work with the Nstrument Lab, where he researched contemporary applications of technology in music. Through The New School, Ethan studied privately in bass and composition with Reid Anderson, Dave Douglas, Buster Williams, Elliot Cole, and Drew Gress. 

Ethan currently lives in a small apartment in NYC’s East Village, and can be seen playing bass around the city with various groups.