Ryan Cohan "One Sky"
Motema
By Ron Netsky on Nov. 28th, 2007

There is no doubt that Ryan Cohan is an extraordinary pianist. His unaccompanied rendition of "Lush Life" squeezes every ounce of beauty from the tune. And his solo at the beginning of "Easy For You To Say" is delightfully Monkish. But his new album, "One Sky," is also a showcase for his writing and arranging. Typical arrangements include a sax or two, a clarinet, and a flugelhorn or trumpet. Even though none of Cohan's band-mates are household names, they are all excellent. Cohan's compositions, like "Checkmate" and "Double Agent," are as intricately nuanced as they are catchy. But his most audacious and successful endeavor, "One Sky: Tone Poems For Humanity," is a five-track suite taking up half of the album. "Into Being" conjures up a chaotic swirl forming into a more coherent form, while "Wonder & Response" and "Awe" are imbued with feelings of discovery. The final movement, "Hope," ends the album on an optimistic, triumphant note.

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