Amy Kohn

Amy Kohn (born June 5, 1972) is an American composer, lyricist, singer, pianist and accordionist.

Amy Kohn
Amy Kohn on accordion during a performance of the Amy Kohn Band at Galapagos Art Space in New York City (January 2009).
Amy Kohn on accordion during a performance of the Amy Kohn Band at Galapagos Art Space in New York City (January 2009).
Background information
Born (1972-06-05) June 5, 1972
OriginChicago, Illinois, United States
Instrument(s)Piano, accordion, vocals
Years active1998–present
LabelsNuNoise Records, Amymusic
Websitewww.amykohn.com

Life and career

Born in Chicago, she studied at Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music in Ohio and New York University Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program. The final thesis for her master's degree was her chamber-opera 1 Plum Sq, which was later produced and broadcast in 2005 on WNYC as part of their American Music Festival.[1]

In New York City Amy Kohn met the legendary producer Arif Mardin who dubbed her a "Musical Devil in a Red Dress" and chose Amy as a featured singer and accordionist on his last effort: an album of songs written by Mardin himself and produced in the last year of his life. Also featured on this album are artists such as Norah Jones, Phil Collins, Raul Midón and Dianne Reeves.[2][3]

She co-produced her album I’m in Crinoline (2006) with Arif's son Joe Mardin of NuNoise Records.

She lives in New York where she is the leader of her 7-piece band (the Amy Kohn Band).

Outside of the United States she has performed her music in European festivals (such as the Edinburgh's Fringe Festival, Woma Jazz and UBI Jazz[4] in Italy and Festival of Performing Arts[5] in Pula, Croatia) and in tandem with the Italian pianist and singer Debora Petrina in the project Naked (NienteAltroKEDonne).

Her music was also transmitted on many European radio stations (such as the UK's BBC Radio 3, BBC 6 Music[6] and Resonance FM and Concertzender in the Netherlands).

She has worked on commissions from the string quartet Ethel of New York City, for pianist Guy Livingston (DVD: One Minute More) and for the children's theater company I Fantaghirò[7] of Padua, Italy.

Discography

Albums
  • "The Glass Laughs Back" 1999
  • "I’m in Crinoline" 2006
  • "PlexiLusso" 2014

References
  1. "WNYC - Spinning on Air: Amy Kohn's radio opera "1 Plum Sq." (July 08, 2005)". Archived from the original on January 9, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2009. Amy Kohn's radio opera "1 Plum Sq." on WNYC
  2. "JazzTimes – Mardin Magic: A Tribute to Producer Arif Mardin". Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  3. "All My Friends Are Here" Last Recording by Producer Arif Mardin
  4. "Jazz News: Ubi Jazz 2007 - Jazz di Donne - 6 giu.-27 lug". Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  5. "FoPA - Festival of Performing Arts". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/freakzone/tracklisting_20090802.shtml Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone, August 2, 2009, BBC Radio
  7. http://www.fantaghiro.org/?cmd=musiche Music for "Il Brutto Anatroccolo" (The Ugly Duckling) for I Fantaghirò (Padua, Italy)
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