Porky Cohen - Rhythm and Bones (1996)

You are either familiar with Roomful of Blues, or you haven't been paying attention. What you may not know is that for a good number of years one of their trombone players was from a different era.

Zolman "Porky" Cohen, born in 1924, got his first trombone at 13 and was playing with the big bands within just a few years. After a tryout with Benny Goodman Cohen played with Tony Pastor, Charlie Barnet, the Casa Loma Orchestra, Lucky Millinder, Tommy Dorsey, Boyd Raeburn, Artie Shaw, and a variety of Dixieland bands in the 1950s.

Porky Cohen was a strong asset to Roomful of Blues from 1979-1986 before choosing to semi-retire.

He joined them again a decade later to record this album. He had always referred to himself as a sideman but this album, the only one with his name on it, proves otherwise. He plays strong and clear, and with a lot of soul. I don't think many musicians could say they've played with everyone from W.C. Handy to Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Porky Cohen passed away on April 14, 2004.

There is a bit more biographical information, as well as his obituary, here.

The Players (not all the players are on all the tracks):

Porky Cohen, Trombone; Sugar Ray Norcia, Vocal; Michelle Wilson, Vocal; Bob Enos, Trumpet; Carl Querforth, Trombone; Gordon Beadle, Tenor Sax; Doug James, Bari Sax; Rich Lataille, Alto and Tenor Sax; Matt McCabe, Piano; Chris Vachon, Guitar; Rob Nelson, Guitar; Ken Grace, Bass; Marty Ballou, Bass; John Rossi, Drums

Tracks:
1. Don't Lose Your Cool
2. Jim Dog
3. Sent For You Yesterday
4. Day Dream
5. Red Rock
6. Slidin' Horns
7. Walkin' With Mr Lee
8. Cloudburst
9. D'Natural Blues
10. P.D.Q. Boogie
11. Trombone Porky
12. Do Anything You Wanna
13. Porky's Blues

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[Buy the original here]

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