Bio
Welcome to the official website of American Israeli jazz drummer Gabriel Bar-Cohen.
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 Israeli 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 Chris’ Jazz Café in Philadelphia, the 55 Bar in NYC, and the New Brunswick Jazz Project in New Jersey, performing regularly as a sideman and bandleader.
Since relocating to Israel in 2021, Bar-Cohen has become a fixture on the Tel Aviv jazz scene, leading his own trio and quartet and performing alongside top artists such as Yehonatan Cohen, Yuval Drabkin, Deborah Dery, and Gonn Shani. 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 currently teaches jazz drums at the Be’er Sheva Conservatory and Ahavat Zion School, 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. He also served on faculty at the Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra Summer Camp in 2019.
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 brings an intense sense of contrast, spontaneity, and sonic depth that has made him one of the most exciting young voices on the Israeli 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 Chris’ Jazz Café in Philadelphia, the 55 Bar in NYC, and the New Brunswick Jazz Project in New Jersey, performing regularly as a sideman and bandleader.
Since relocating to Israel in 2021, Bar-Cohen has become an active member of the Tel Aviv jazz scene, performing with some of the country’s leading artists including Yehonatan Cohen, Yuval Drabkin, Deborah Dery, and Gonn Shani among many others. He plays regularly at clubs like Beit Ha’amudim, Amama Jazz Room, Jazz Kissa, and The Holy Bar.
In addition to performing, Bar-Cohen is a dedicated educator. He currently teaches jazz drums at the Be’er Sheva Conservatory and Ahavat Zion School, 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. He also served on faculty at the Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra Summer Camp in 2019.
While still a student at MSM, Bar-Cohen performed throughout the tri-state area, playing gigs at esteemed jazz venues such as Chris’ Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia and the legendary 55 Bar in NYC, and made regular appearances both as a bandleader and a sideman in the New Brunswick Jazz Project Concert Series in New Jersey.
After relocating to Israel in 2021 Bar-Cohen integrated himself into the rich Tel Aviv jazz scene where he performs with some of the most highly regarded names in the country such as Yehonatan Cohen, Yuval Drabkin, Deborah Dery, and Gonn Shani at esteemed clubs like Beit Ha’amudim, Jazz Kissa, and Amama Jazz Room on a weekly basis.
Gabriel Bar-Cohen is also an enthusiastic drum teacher and a dedicated jazz educator. He is currently the jazz drum instructor at the Be’er Sheva Conservatory, the drum instructor at the Ahavat Zion School in Tel Aviv, and teaches private lessons out of his studio in Tel Aviv. In 2019 Bar-Cohen was on faculty at the Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra Summer Camp.
His former students have been accepted to the competitive Princeton High School Studio Band, his alma mater, as well as the prestigious Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Program.
