Article Contributed by Missing Piece Group
Published on 2026-03-24
March 24, 2026: Today, acclaimed pianist, composer, and bandleader Emmet Cohen announced a May 29 release date for Universal Truth, his fourth album for Mack Avenue Records. Recorded in celebration of the 2026 centennial year of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, the album honors the pianist’s forebears by carrying forward their spirit of personal and spiritual discovery in his own distinctive style.
Preorder Emmet Cohen’s Universal Truth
Widely regarded as one of the leading pianists of his generation, Emmet Cohen has built his reputation on bridging jazz’s storied lineage with a deeply communal, modern approach. From his collection of Masters Legacy Series recordings—featuring icons including Jimmy Cobb, Benny Golson, Albert “Tootie” Heath, and Houston Person—to his widely popular livestream series Live From Emmet’s Place, Cohen has consistently emphasized connection across generations and audiences.
Universal Truth features classic tunes associated with the album’s twin inspirations of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, carefully curated through Cohen’s personal connection with the repertoire. For the album’s rendition of “My Funny Valentine,” Cohen brought together bassist Ron Carter and tenor saxophonist George Coleman for a poignant reunion, more than sixty years after they performed on the Miles Davis album of the same name at Lincoln Center’s Philharmonic Hall.
The rhythm section for the album is Cohen’s trio with bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Joe Farnsworth, who kick off the proceedings with a taut reduction of Davis and Bud Powell’s “Budo” from The Birth of the Cool. Carter takes over the bass duties for a brisk dash through Monk’s “Well You Needn’t,” with Jeremy Pelt contributing a blistering trumpet solo. Pelt and Carter are also featured on “Gingerbread Boy,” the classic composition by Jimmy Heath—who also would have celebrated his 100th this year. The album concludes with Coltrane’s “Blue Trane,” with the twin tenors of Coleman and Tivon Pennicott joining Pelt and the trio for a rollicking excursion through the landmark tune. The centerpiece of Universal Truth is Cohen’s titular suite, an ambitious three-part composition that is as deeply personal and revelatory as anything that he has conjured to date.
“In all my research and study into John Coltrane, one phrase always stuck out,” Cohen explains. “‘Universal Truth.’ When Trane talked about his artistry and his calling, his intention was always to seek that universal truth. I interpret that to mean his higher power, his version of God, his connection to the source that connects and calls to every living thing on Earth.”
With Universal Truth, Emmet Cohen celebrates the great discoveries of past masters by making his own search for the endless revelations contained within those simple, profound, vast universal truths.
Tracklisting:
1. Budo
2. Well You Needn’t
3. My Funny Valentine
4. Gingerbread Boy
5. I. Eternal Glimpse
6. II. Compassion
7. III. Universal Truth
8. Blue Trane
Tour Dates
Mar 24-28: New York, NY – Birdland
Mar 29: Portsmouth, NH – Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club
April 4: Gainesville, FL – University of Florida
Apr 6-7: La Jolla, CA – The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
Apr 8: Stanford, CA – Bing Concert Hall
Apr 9: San Francisco, CA – SFJAZZ Center
Apr 10: Rohnert Park, CA – Sonoma State University
Apr 11: Irvine, CA – Irvine Barclay Theatre
Apr 12: Santa Barbara, CA – Campbell Hall
Apr 14: Santa Cruz, CA – Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Apr 16-19: Seattle, WA – Jazz Alley
Apr 21: West Vancouver, BC – Kay Meek Arts Centre
Apr 22: Portland, OR – The Old Church Concert Hall
Apr 27: Livestream – Live From Emmet’s Place (featuring Veronica Swift)
Apr 29: International Jazz Day Celebration
May 2: Danbury, CT – Western Connecticut State University
May 8: Miami, FL – Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
May 17: Buffalo, NY – Kleinhans Music Hall
May 25: Livestream – Live From Emmet’s Place (Universal Truth Release Show)
May 28: Los Angeles, CA – The Wallis with the Pacific Jazz Orchestra
Jun 11: Cincinnati, OH – Caffe Vivace
Jun 12: Lakeside, OH – Hoover Auditorium
Jun 14: Boone, NC – Appalachian Theatre of the High Country
Jun 22: Livestream – Live From Emmet’s Place (featuring Chris Potter)
Jul 8-12: New York, NY – Smoke Jazz Club
July 25: Katonah, NY – Caramoor
Sept 5-6: Washington, DC – DC Jazz Fest
Sept 8-12: New York, NY – Birdland NYC
Sept 18-25: Botti @ Sea
Sept 26: Chicago, IL – Hyde Park Jazz Festival
Oct 9: Provo, UT – BYU
Oct 11: Berkeley, CA – Freight and Salvage
Jan 12-17: David Foster at Sea
Jan 17-24: The Jazz Cruise
Jan 24-31: Journey of Jazz Cruise
Feb 12: Boston, MA – Berklee Performance Center
Feb 19-21: Northridge, CA – Cal State Northridge
About Emmet Cohen
Emmet Cohen is widely regarded as a leading jazz pianist of his generation and a defining force in the evolution of the art form. A virtuoso musician, producer, and bandleader, he combines deep respect for jazz tradition with a singular ability to create connection, community, and momentum in the modern era. Cohen has released 12 albums as a leader and is the producer and creative force behind Live From Emmet’s Place, a landmark series comprising over 140 two-hour livestream performances featuring hundreds of musicians spanning generations and reaching more than 100 million views worldwide. A Mack Avenue recording artist, Cohen has performed in over 40 countries, serves as host of The Jazz Cruise and a member of its programming team, and he has been chosen as Artistic Partner of the 2027 American Piano Awards. He was named DownBeat Readers Poll Pianist of the Year (2025) and, in 2023, received both Pianist of the Year and Livestream Producer of the Year honors from the Jazz Journalists Association.
