Danny Cohen

The Profile

American outsider songwriter active since the early 1960s, resurfacing with Museum of Dannys on John Zorn’s Tzadik (1999), followed by Dannyland and Shades of Dorian Gray. His work blends pop, folk, jazz, and blues with a free, unconventional approach and a distinctive, elastic voice; critics cite affinities with Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart, and Syd Barrett.

Played with his brother Greg Cohen as early as 1961; John Zorn released his comeback album Museum of Dannys on Tzadik in 1999; subsequent albums include Dannyland and Shades of Dorian Gray; often linked to the American underground/urban folk tradition and compared to Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart, Syd Barrett, and Daniel Johnston.

Three reviews paint Danny Cohen as an eccentric American songwriter who resurfaced with John Zorn’s Tzadik release Museum of Dannys (1999), followed by Dannyland and Shades of Dorian Gray. His music blends pop, folk, jazz, and blues with a free, unconventional approach and a distinctive, elastic voice. Comparisons recur to Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart, Syd Barrett, and Daniel Johnston. Expect burps, ballads, and beautifully crooked urban folk.