Michael Cochrane, born in Peekskill, New York, is a respected New York-area pianist, composer, and arranger based in the tri-state region since 1974. A Boston University alumnus with a five-decade career, he has performed and recorded with Sonny Fortune, Michael Brecker, Chico Freeman, Clark Terry, Eddie Gomez, and others. His nimble, tasteful style draws from Cedar Walton, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock, and he leads various groups while releasing albums as a bandleader.

Bassist Calvin Hill is a six-decade jazz veteran who has collaborated with icons like McCoy Tyner, Max Roach, George Coleman, Chet Baker, and Pharoah Sanders. He frequently partners with Cochrane in projects, having begun their careers together in Boston. This early connection has fostered a deep, enduring musical bond that continues to shape their work.

Drummer Steve Johns, a dynamic veteran of the New York jazz scene, began playing drums at age nine in Boston. He has collaborated with masters including Nat Adderley, Stanley Turrentine, Benny Carter, Billy Taylor, Phil Woods, Randy Brecker, and the Count Basie Orchestra. He, Michael Cochrane, and Calvin Hill formed a powerful and longstanding rhythm section, performing and recording many times with saxophonist Sonny Fortune.

Alto saxophonist Julien Hucq, originally from Belgium and now based in New York, has toured extensively across Europe and the U.S. He has performed at venues like Birdland and Minton’s Playhouse, as well as festivals including Montreux Jazz Festival and Warsaw Jazz Days. His versatile style spans straight-ahead jazz, bebop, and Latin jazz, with collaborations including Claudio Roditi, Lonnie Plaxico, and Omar Hakim; he has often recorded and toured with Cochrane and Hill.

The Michael Cochrane Quartet offers sophisticated, swinging takes on standards and Cochrane’s originals. Their chemistry stems from deep mutual respect and shared history, including Michael and Calvin’s Boston beginnings, the many performances Michael, Calvin, and Steve played together with Sonny Fortune, and recent European tours and recordings with Julien.