Gabriel Bar-Cohen Quartet plays at the Jazz Station in Eugene
Drummer Gabriel Bar-Cohen leads a quartet of Eugene’s finest, performing original music from his upcoming album alongside fresh takes on jazz standards.
Idit Shner alto saxophone
Keith Brown piano
Tyler Abbott bass
Gabriel Bar-Cohen drums
Gabriel Bar-Cohen is a drummer and educator based in Tel Aviv, known for his open, dynamic approach to swing and modern improvised music. Deeply rooted in the exploratory spirit of 1960s and ’70s jazz, his playing reveals an intense sense of contrast, spontaneity, and sonic depth, offering a distinct perspective to today’s contemporary jazz scene.
Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, Bar-Cohen’s passion for jazz took off when he was selected as the drummer for the acclaimed Princeton High School Studio Band. During his tenure with the band he was named Outstanding Soloist and Superior Soloist at the Berklee High School Jazz Festival in 2016 and 2017, and toured Spain and Portugal. He was also selected to perform with the University of the Arts High School All-Star Big Band and was named a YoungArts Winner in 2018.
He went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied under esteemed jazz educators John Riley, Rogério Boccato, and Ian Froman. During his college years he became a familiar face at some of the top venues including the 55 Bar in NYC, Chris’ Jazz Café in Philadelphia, and the New Brunswick Jazz Project in New Jersey, performing regularly as a sideman and bandleader.
Since relocating to Tel Aviv in 2021, Bar-Cohen has become a fixture in the local jazz scene, leading his own trio and quartet and performing alongside top artists such as Yehonatan Cohen, Mordy Ferber, Guy Mintus, Yuval Drabkin, Guy Levy, Guy Moskovitch, and the Deborah Dery Trio. He appears regularly at venues including Beit Ha’amudim, Amama Jazz Room, Jazz Kissa, and Shablul Jazz Club.
In addition to performing, Bar-Cohen is a dedicated educator. He is currently the jazz drum teacher at the Be’er Sheva Conservatory and offers private lessons out of his Tel Aviv studio. His students have gone on to join prestigious programs such as the Princeton High School Studio Band and the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division.
His debut album is set to be released this summer!
An active performer of both jazz and classical music, Idit Shner has played in various distinguished venues in the United States and abroad, such as The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Lincoln Center in New York.
Her latest project, Mhondoro, blends Zimbabwean folk music and American jazz. Mhondoro released their second album, Ngatibatanei / Let Us Unite! in 2024. Their debut album, Heatwave, was released in 2022. Additional jazz releases include Live at The Jazz Station, 9 Short Stories (which garnered a 4-start review in Downbeat magazine) and Tuesday’s Blues. Jazz festival performances include the Diet Coke Woman in Jazz Festival (NY), Bellayre Festival (NY), and New-Trier Jazz Festival (IL).
Idit appears on Music from SEAMUS Vol. 16, a compilation CD of music for instruments and electronic sounds by members of the Society for Electroacoustic Music in the United States.
As a classical saxophonist Idit has commissioned and recorded new music and performed solo recitals in the US and Israel. MINERVA is her latest classical release. Her third CD, Le Merle Noir, featuring music by Messiaen, Bozza, Partos, and Glass, was released on Origin Classics in August 2013. Her previous classical recording, FISSURES: 20th Century Music for saxophone and Harp with renowned harpist Yumiko Schlaffer, received great acclaim and was played on NPR’s All Things Considered. Idit has collaborated with Fireworks, Beta Collide and Third Angle (new music ensembles), and performed with the Oregon Symphony and the Eugene Symphony. Other appearances include the Northwest Percussion Festival, Electronic Music Midwest, the Oregon Bach Festival, and many North American Saxophone Alliance Conventions. During March 2006 she played in Israel as a featured soloist with a symphonic orchestra, and performed contemporary music at the national convention of the Society for Electro Acoustic Music in the US. Her last solo recital in Israel was broadcasted live on Voice of Music, a national public radio station.
Idit holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University, a Masters degree in Music Education from University of Central Oklahoma, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from University of North Texas. Idit now teaches at the University of Oregon, as professor of saxophone and jazz studies. She was awarded three prestigious teaching awards: The 2015 Thomas F. Herman Award for Excellence in Pedagogy in areas of saxophone technique and chamber music coaching; the 2016 University of Oregon Faculty Excellence Award; and a Philip H. Knight Endowed Chair in 2019.
Keith L. Brown is a distinguished pianist, composer, and educator, widely regarded as one of the most sought-after musicians in contemporary jazz. Rooted in R&B, Funk, Classical, Jazz, and Hip-Hop, his compositions and piano style seamlessly blend these influences, showcasing both deep tradition and modern innovation. With an exceptional command of jazz’s rich language, Brown transitions effortlessly between hard swing, funk, and free improvisation—all while maintaining a distinctive artistic voice.
Born in Memphis, TN, and raised in Knoxville, TN, Brown began playing piano seriously at 18 and quickly established himself as a formidable force in jazz. He currently tours as the pianist for Grammy-nominated saxophonist and 2023 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship recipient Kenny Garrett. His extensive collaborations include performances with Stefon Harris, Jazzmeia Horn, George Coleman, Greg Tardy, Camille Thurman, Terreon Gully, Willie Jones III, Endea Owens, Charles Tolliver, Buster Williams, Lenny White, Steve Turre, John Clayton, and many more—captivating audiences worldwide.
As a respected bandleader, Brown has headlined renowned venues and international jazz festivals, including the Jazz en Tête Festival in Clermont-Ferrand and Sunset Jazz Club. To date, he has released three full-length albums as a leader, with his latest project, Keith Brown Trio: African Ripples, earning four stars in Downbeat Magazine.
Music has always been woven into Brown’s life. The son of revered composer, pianist, and educator Donald Brown, he was immersed in music from an early age, learning from his father’s artistry and wisdom. His mother, Dorothy, and siblings, Kenneth, Donald Jr., and Cynthia, are all artists, making creativity a family tradition. Through his dedication to exploration, innovation, and reinvention, Brown honors his family’s legacy and the musical ancestors who paved the way before him.
Now, he is passing along his knowledge as the Assistant Professor of Jazz and Contemporary Piano at the University of Oregon, inspiring the next generation of musicians.
Tyler Abbott teaches double bass, jazz bass, and music theory at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance in Eugene, Oregon, and has taught at Walla Walla College and Willamette University. He maintains a private teaching studio in Eugene, Oregon. He maintains an active performance schedule as an orchestral bassist, chamber musician, jazz bassist, clinician, and soloist, and has performed nationally and internationally with some of the finest musicians in both the classical and jazz music worlds. He has recently performed with, or is a member of, the Eugene Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Aspen Festival Orchestra, Oregon Bach Festival, Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Festival of American Music’s “American Symphonia,” Eugene Opera Orchestra, Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Mozart Players, Salem Chamber Orchestra, and several other professional orchestras throughout the region and country. As a chamber musician, he has performed with the Oregon String Quartet, Chamber Music Amici, Pacifica Trio, Beta Collide, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, Orli Shaham, Sharon Robinson, Vladamir Feltsman, Jamie Laredo, acclaimed contemporary soprano Lucy Shelton, and Hundreth Monkey, a contemporary ensemble based in Eugene, of which he was co-director.
As a jazz bassist, Tyler has performed with Steve Wilson, Ben Monder, Randy Porter, Roswell Rudd, Danilo Perez, Billy Childs, Chris Botti, Dave Pietro, Scott Wenholdt, Billy Kilson, Nancy King, Marcus Whitfield, George Mitchell, Arnie Caruthers, Ryan Keberle, Randy Halberstadt, Dick Hyman, Howard Levy, Warren Rand, Tom Grant, John Stowell, and many others. He performs regularly in jazz festivals and on radio broadcasts and has performed with a touring Broadway show. His recording with Toby Koenigsberg, Sense, was released on Origin Records and was met with favorable reviews in several publications. Tyler has presented master classes at several universities and high schools, and presented at the 2011 International Society of Bassists Convention in San Francisco, CA. His playing can be heard on the soundtrack to the documentary Fly Away Beetle, released in 2011. He performed on Hashem Assadullahi’s project Pieces (featuring Ron Miles, and also including James Miley, Justin Morell, and Ryan Biesack), to be released in 2012.
Tyler studied double bass with Roma Vayspapir (former principal bass of the Leningrad Philharmonic), Bruce Bransby (former principal bass of the Los Angeles Philharmonic), Jeff Bradetich (international soloist and pedagogue), Don Hermanns (Oregon Symphony), Lynn Seaton (Professor of Jazz Bass, University of North Texas), Dave Captein (Portland-based freelance jazz musician), Ken Baldwin (former assistant principal of Oregon Symphony), Curtis Daily (Seattle Baroque Orchestra, Portland Baroque Orchestra), Eugene Jablonsky, and has studied briefly and/or participated in master classes with Hal Robinson, Edgar Meyer, Al Laszlo, and Eugene Levinson. He traveled to Gorizia, Italy to study with Christina Hoock, bass professor of the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He attended the Aspen Music Festival and School for five years and attended the Atlantic Music Festival, where he was the only fellowship recipient on bass.
