Spotlight Band: Estar Cohen Project

2/14/2013

Lineup: Estar Cohen, vocals; Travis Aukerman, drums; Steven Knurek, bass; Josh Silver, piano; and A.J. Shank, tenor saxophone.

Year formed: 2012

Style of music: Jazz

Influences: Modern jazz, rhythm and blues, afrobeat, avant garde and free jazz, vocalese. Composers in the jazz idiom such as Aaron Parks, Maria Schneider, Anders Jormin, Brad Mehldau, Patricia Barber, Robert Glasper, Johnny Bowtie; and songwriters such as Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, and Sufjan Stevens.

Sounds a little like: Recent female-fronted jazz groups such as Becca Stevens Band, Gretchen Parlato, and Esperanza Spalding.

Favorite local venue: Tie between Robinwood Concert House and Happy Badger Cafe.

Upcoming gigs/projects: A monthly dinner party and concert showcase is in the works. to be announced shortly.

Any recordings: Video and audio from Estar Cohen Project Live at the Happy Badger to be released in February.

Web site: estarcohen.com and facebook.com/estarcohenproject.