Bruce Cohen has been at the forefront of Messianic Jewish musical ministry since the late 1970's. Lyricist, composer, arranger, and performer on guitar, keyboards, and bass - and producer of recordings – with the band-driven vocal ensemble, "Kol Simcha," and later the duo, "Cohen & Rose" – his eclectic compositions range from acoustic and rock 'n roll worship to acapella Hebraic vocal fugues and blues. His music was reviewed by "The Messianic Times" newspaper as one of the formative influences of the entire Messianic Jewish musical genre.
Cohen's music has been widely covered internationally by artists like Helen Shapiro, Barry and Batya Segal, Yehudi, and many others. His songs were honored to be included in the "Avodat Yeshua" printed score anthology of the most influential and widely-known Messianic Jewish worship songs. Cohen has for three decades also been a director and trainer of worship musicians at conferences from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv and Moscow to Cape Town.
Since 1993, Bruce Cohen has been doing two gigs a week in Manhattan at the synagogue in which he also serves as rabbi, as well as at various conferences and assemblies in the USA, Israel, Europe, South Africa, and the former Soviet Union as his schedule permits.
All the above was done alongside Rabbi Bruce Cohen's other career as an acknowledged front line religious leader, author/scholar, teacher, and planter of congregations and schools all over the world. Cohen's background is Union College, Columbia University, the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, and the IAMCS Yeshiva. He was personally mentored in composition and keyboard performance by Yale keyboard virtuoso Hugh Allen Wilson, a student of Paul Hindemith.
Bruce Cohen's music is available for digital download on iTunes, and in CD format and other digital sources at CD Baby and his synagogue's online store under the Resources banner at www.bethelnyc.org. If you want to see him live, you can go to Congregation Beth El of Manhattan services on Saturday mornings, 10:30am, at 593 Park Avenue in New York City 10021. More information on his music or on live concerts can be obtained at www.rabbibrucecohen.org.
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