A 90th Birthday Tribute to Big Band Lead Trumpet Legend Pauly Cohen

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Veteran big band lead trumpet Pauly Cohen, who now leads his own big band in Fort Lauderdale, will be honored at a Special 90th Birthday Tribute at Soyka, The Restaurant in Miami on Friday, October 5 at 8:30. Bassist Don Wilner's group is performing and Pauly's friends will be there, to play and tell stories about this remarkable man. Sokya, The Restaurant, is located at 5556 NE 4th Court, 55th Street Station, Miami, Florida.

Pauly Cohen graduated from Lincoln High School in Brooklyn and within a few years, was working as a big band lead trumpeter with Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw and Charlie Barnet. His credits include hundreds of recording sessions, TV and Radio programs, and many many years on the road.
An early mentor and friend was Dizzy Gillespie, dating back to the mid-40s, when they were both in the trumpet section of the Earl Hines Big Band that also included Charlie Parker. Pauly reached a creative peak in the 70s when he played lead trumpet with Count Basie.

When Pauly moved to South Florida in his early 80s, he didn't retire. Instead, he formed his own group populated by other big band veterans, which he continues to lead today, on the eve of his 90th birthday.

Filmmaker Bret Primack, whose Jazz Video Guy YouTube channel is the biggest Jazz channel on the web (1100 videos, 26 million views), will be filming the Tribute, as part of a film he's producing about Mr. Cohen, entitled "Pauly Cohen, Trumpeter."

"Pauly's story, " Primack explains, "is not just for music fans. It has a more universal appeal because it's about something everyone experiences: aging. Pauly Cohen, about to enter his ninth decade, is still actively pursuing his big band dream at a time in life when those who have survived the ravages of old age are most likely retired and lined up for an early dinner. Thankfully, there is a man of action like Pauly Cohen, to remind us that we can continue to do what we love, long past forced retirement."

In addition to the Tribute At Soyka, Pauly Cohen's 90th Birthday week celebration includes several events that will be part of the film:

Tuesday afternoon, October 2, Florida International University, Rehearsal, Studio Big Band led by Jim Packer and a Pauly Cohen Master Class. Pauly will sharing his lead trumpet and big band experiences with a superb College band.

Wednesday afternoon, October 3, Blue Jean Blues, Fort Lauderdale, Lunch with a Minyan, an intimate birthday day celebration with Pauly and twelve of his closest friends.

Thursday, October 4, Pauly's weekly rehearsal at the Northwest Focal Point Senior Center in Margate, Florida where his Big Band rehearses at 1pm.

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