Zinky Cohn was a pianist associated with the late-'20s and '30s Chicago scene, especially the groups of clarinetist Jimmie Noone. Although playing jazz has never been a sedate enterprise, this era was certainly among the wildest in the history of this genre. One example of the type of playing experiences available to Cohn was Noone's Apex Club Orchestra. The clarinetist fronted this band at the old Apex Club on the Southside from 1928 to 1930, until Prohibition came along and the bar was raided by federal agents for selling alcohol. This group played in the recording studio as well as in speakeasies, sometimes under the name of Jimmie Noone's Blue Melody Boys, and was prolific in front of the studio microphones. Between 1929 and 1934, Cohn recorded frequently with Noone, including many sides for the Vocalion label. As a result, the large Noone discography is thick with Cohn's piano work. The pianist scribbled out the tune Apex Blues in honor of this hooch-soaked gig and it became one of Noone's most-requested items as well as a swing jazz standard, but is more often credited to Noone and the much more famous jazz pianist Earl Hines, as well as a variety of others. Overlapping with his stint with Noone were Cohn's own efforts as a leader, including a traveling band featuring the interesting tenor saxophonist Leon Washington. The pianist also worked with Frankie Franco His Louisianians, appearing on the classic recording of Somebody Stole My Gal done for the Mellotone label in 1930. Like most Chicago pianists of this era, he dabbled in blues, recording with classic female vocalist Georgia White. By the late '30s, Cohn had gravitated toward more administrative duties, taking over the head of the Chicago musician's union local. He continued to play various local jobs, although some of these engagements were lackluster, despite his inevitable rousing versions of Apex Blues. Scholars in the field of Jewish jazz can take note of this player; like his namesake, tenor saxophonist Al Cohn, he descends from one of the so-called 12 tribes. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi