Universal Truth LP

Universal Truth is pianist Emmet Cohen's fourth record for Mack Avenue, built as a tribute to Miles Davis and John Coltrane for their shared centennial. Cohen's trio, with bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Joe Farnsworth, carries the record, but the guest list is the real hook: bassist Ron Carter and tenor saxophonist George Coleman reunite on "My Funny Valentine," more than sixty years after playing on Davis's original recording of the tune, while trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and saxophonist Tivon Pennicott round out the sessions. Cohen was named DownBeat's 2025 Pianist of the Year.