Michael Cochrane is an American jazz pianist, composer, and educator born on September 4, 1948, in Peekskill, New York. Based in the tri-state area since 1974, he has performed with jazz luminaries such as Sonny Fortune, Michael Brecker, Tom Harrell, and Clark Terry, and played at iconic venues like the Village Vanguard and Carnegie Hall. Cochrane has recorded extensively as a leader for labels like SteepleChase and Soul Note, with notable albums including Elements (1985) and Cutting Edge (1997). Holding a Master’s in Music Education from NYU (1985), he has taught at institutions like Princeton and Rutgers Universities, blending his passion for performance with a commitment to jazz education. His style fuses introspective swing with influences from Bach to Monk.