Anat Cohen’s Musical Evolution & 50th Birthday Celebration

Episode Summary: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steven Roby sits down with Grammy-nominated clarinetist and saxophonist Anat Cohen. Known for her expressive virtuosity and infectious charisma, Anat is bringing a massive milestone celebration to San Francisco. We discuss her upcoming "50th Birthday Celebration" at SFJAZZ (December 11-12), a career-spanning residency featuring her intimate "Quartetinho" ensemble and her expansive 10-piece "Tentet." Anat opens up about growing up in a musical household in Tel Aviv, her "student for life" philosophy while pursuing a master’s degree in Rio de Janeiro, and the creative visualization behind her latest album, Bloom. In This Episode, We Cover: • The Cohen Family House: Growing up in Tel Aviv with brothers Yuval and Avishai and fighting for sonic space. • Defining "Quartetinho": How her "little quartet" creates a massive sound through multi-instrumentalism (accordion, vibes, guitar, and electronics). • Visualizing the Music: The fascinating story of how a solo clarinet practice session evolved into the track "The Night Owl." • The Eternal Student: Why Anat returned to university to study Brazilian music in the middle of a successful touring career. • Big Band Energy: Recording Interaction Live with the WDR Big Band and her brothers. • Show Preview: What audiences can expect at the SFJAZZ Birthday Celebration, from intimate duos to "wild party moments". Featured Music: • "The Night Owl" – From the album Bloom (2024, Anzic Records). • "Footsteps and Smiles" – From the album Interaction Live (2025, Anzic Records). Links & Resources: • TICKETS: Anat Cohen 50th Birthday Celebration at SFJAZZ (https://www.sfjazz.org/)  (Dec 11-12, Miner Auditorium). • Official Website: AnatCohen.com (http://www.anatcohen.com/) • Record Label: Anzic Records (http://www.anzicrecords.com/) • Latest Album: Bloom (http://www.anzicrecords.com/) Connect with Backstage Bay Area: • Website: BackstageBayArea.com (http://backstagebayarea.com/) • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backstagesfbay/ • Host: Steven Roby If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review!

Added 4 Apr 2026