elliottcohncosmicsweatsocietybio

back to home back to Cosmic Sweat Society artist page

Elliott Cohn is a premier guitarist/singer/songwriter whose unique sound is made up of an extensive blend of musical styles including blues, jazz, funk, 60's guitar psychedelia, reggae and good ole' rock and roll.
Elliott has been performing live and recording in bands since the early age of 12, sitting in with a variety of local and national artists. He had a special passion for the blues and was fortunate enough to meet and jam with blues legends: John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy and Big Daddy Kinsey and The Kinsey Report.

At age 15, Elliott was invited to stay with the Kinsey Family in Gary, Indiana. During this time he received his first "real musical education" in the southside Chicago blues scene. He was privileged in his apprenticeship to enjoy playing live sets under the watchful eyes and ears of blues guitar greats Donald Kinsey and Ron Prince at such venues as: The Kingston Mines, Club Blues + Buddy Guy's own Legends.

Upon returning to Tampa, Elliott met Kenny Green (Bass). Elliott and Kenny went on to join and\or form a variety of Tampa-based Bands including: Midlife Crisis, Motherwit, Spott, Freaks Rule, Grin and The Bird Street Players. As the founders and driving creative force of Grin, they obtained the valuable experience of working large pro venues and festival stages, including multiple performances at The House of Blues (Orlando), opening up for War, K.C. and the Sunshine Band and Los Lobos. In addition, Elliott and Kenny kicked off the festivities at the prestigious 1998 and 1999 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on the Congo Square Stage with The Batiste Family Band, paving the way for
The Neville Brothers, The Funky Meters, Carlos Santana and Ray Charles.
While playing with The Bird Street Players, Elliott and Kenny experienced the pleasurable opportunity of opening for GLove and Special Sauce, Mofro, Galactic, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and P.B.S. (George Porter Jr., Russell Batiste and Brian Stoltz) members of The Funky Meters. This resulted in some electrifying performances by Elliott after being invited to share the stage with most of these great acts.

With all this experience under his belt, Elliott decided to embark on his first solo venture, producing his first full-length CD (based heavily in funk, jazz, rock and alternative pop) and surrounding himself with some of Florida's best session musicians, most notably childhood friend and bass player, Felix Pastorius, son of jazz legend and Ft. Lauderdale native, Jaco Pastorius. After logging countless hours of writing and arranging on their respective instruments, this songwriting duo's next task was to "lock in the grooves". To accomplish this, they turned to ex-Motherwit drummer and Berkley School of Music graduate, Joe Murphy. With this fine tuned trio in place, Elliott proceeded to record his debut CD, incorporating a 4-piece horn section including Ronny Dee, son of Peppermint Twist's Joey Dee (tenor and alto sax), Andy Beer (baritone sax), Todd D'Man (trumpet) and Scott Meyers (trombone). Also included on the Hammond B3 was Nashville recording artist Rob Stoney and local Tampa legend Dennis "Torpedo D", with the funky turntable stylings of DJ Rip 1, completing the mix.
In addition, Elliott was fortunate enough to retain the expert horn stylings of two very special guests: Jeff Watkins (alto and tenor sax) of the legendary James Brown Band, and Sammie "Big Sam" Williams (trombone) formerly of Dirty Dozen Brass Band, "who is now fronting his own act, Big Sam's Funky Nation". on a scorching version of the classic soul tune "The Chicken" and one of Elliott's own
(all instrumental) originals.

In order to take this music from the studio to the stage, Elliott re-united with long-time friend and ace-bassist, Kenny Green, and formed "Elliott Cohn and the Cosmic Sweat Society". The lineup is continuously changing with a list of artists that vary from well known New Orleans players to up-n-coming un-heard of's that will equally make you move into a sweat.

Even with so many musical variations effecting their sound, one thing remains constant - the continuous
flow of revolutionary, positive, fun and loving messages throughout Elliott's lyrics.

"I feel that music can truly unite all people, but we've got to be willing and unafraid to think in new ways, not only about others and our surroundings, but also about ourselves." Elliott Cohn.

Elliott currently resides in New Orleans, where he is steeping himself in the sounds of the crescent city, to further expand his musical horizons.

Elliott has been fortunate enough to play sets with some of New Orleans' Top Acts including: Papa Grows Funk, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Juice featuring Joe Krown and Big Sam's Funky Nation. Currently kept busy with the allstar NOLA lineup known as the UnderDawgs. and Elliott Cohn and Kenny Greens' Cosmic Sweat Society.