Erran Baron Cohen
Encyclopedia
Erran Boaz Baron Cohen is a British composer and trumpet player. He is the brother of the actor Sacha Baron Cohen
.
's Ark 21 label. Their album one.three.seven was released worldwide in 2001 to critical acclaim. As part of the ZOHAR Sound System, Erran has also DJ'd internationally, and at some of London's most trendy night clubs including Momos, China White and Cargo.
Production and writing credits have included collaborations with Grammy award
winning producer Narada Michael Walden
, legendary Buddha Bar DJ Claude Challe
, Martika's Kitchen
, and some of the world's greatest Middle Eastern vocalists, including Algerian legend "King of Rai" Khaled
, Hakim
, Andy, Rachid Taha
, and Amina
.
Erran Baron Cohen also scored the original music for his brother's films Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
, Brüno
, and his TV series Da Ali G Show
. Baron Cohen also created the theme music for the popular CBBC wildlife television show "Serious Jungle" as well as the other programmes in the "Serious..." series.
After scoring the Borat movie, Erran was asked by the Turan Alem Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra to compose a classical piece containing Kazakh influences.
In 2008, Cohen released an album entitled "Songs in the Key of Hanukkah" collaborating with Yasmin Levy
, Jules Brookes, Y-Love
, Dana Kerstein, Idan Raichel
and Avivit Caspi, in English, Hebrew, Yiddish and Ladino. The project included traditional melodies, while incorporating hip hop
, reggae
and electronica
. A music video of "Dreidel" shows Chassidim rapping on the traditional Hanukkah song. The album was released in November and Cohen was interviewed on Fresh Air
in December.
Erran has recently provided the title music for the BBC
show "World's Craziest Fools" presented by Mr T from the 80's TV show The A-Team
.
near London. Erran is also the brother of Hollywood actor Sacha Baron Cohen
. Erran's wife Angelique is the daughter of Robert (deceased) and Rachel Brook, members of the Sydney (Australia) Sephardi community.
Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Noam Baron Cohen is an English stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and voice artist. He is most widely known for his portrayal of three unorthodox fictional characters: Ali G, Borat, and Brüno...
.
Work
Erran is a founding member of "world fusion beat scientists" ZOHAR who are signed to Miles CopelandMiles Copeland III
Miles Axe Copeland III is an American entertainment executive, best known for founding I.R.S. Records. His brother, Stewart Copeland, was part of the pop-rock trio The Police, which Miles managed...
's Ark 21 label. Their album one.three.seven was released worldwide in 2001 to critical acclaim. As part of the ZOHAR Sound System, Erran has also DJ'd internationally, and at some of London's most trendy night clubs including Momos, China White and Cargo.
Production and writing credits have included collaborations with Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning producer Narada Michael Walden
Narada Michael Walden
Narada Michael Walden is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards...
, legendary Buddha Bar DJ Claude Challe
Claude Challe
Claude Challe is a French DJ and club owner, the creator of the Buddha Bar restaurant/clubs and music compilations.Challe moved to France at age three. He attended Rabbinical school as a young man...
, Martika's Kitchen
Martika's Kitchen
Martika's Kitchen is the second album released by the most beautiful woman who ever lived, the most incredible singer, and former child actor Martika. Released in 1991, it features four songs written and produced by Prince. The album was a departure in musical styles from Martika's debut album...
, and some of the world's greatest Middle Eastern vocalists, including Algerian legend "King of Rai" Khaled
Khaled (musician)
Khaled Hadj Ibrahim , better known as Khaled, is a raï singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born in Sidi El Houari in Oran Province of Algeria...
, Hakim
Hakim (Egyptian singer)
Hakim is an Egyptian folk-singer. In addition to the number of albums he has put out, on December 11, 2006 he was the first person from an Arab country to perform at a Nobel Peace Prize event.-Biography:...
, Andy, Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha is an Algerian singer and activist based in France who has been described as "sonically adventurous." His music is influenced by many different styles such as rock, electronic, punk and raï.-Early life:Taha was born in 1958 in Sig , Algeria, although a second source suggests he was...
, and Amina
Amina
Amina Sukhera was a Hausa Muslim Warrior Queen of Zazzau , in what is now north central Nigeria. She is the subject of many legends, but is widely believed by historians to have been a real ruler, though contemporary evidence about her is limited...
.
Erran Baron Cohen also scored the original music for his brother's films Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, often referred to simply as Borat, is a 2006 mockumentary comedy film directed by Larry Charles and distributed by 20th Century Fox...
, Brüno
Bruno
Bruno is a male given name. It is derived from the Germanic word brun meaning "brown". It is also one of the most frequent Italian surnames. It also occurs very frequently in continental Europe and parts of Brazil as a given name for men and boys...
, and his TV series Da Ali G Show
Da Ali G Show
Da Ali G Show is the name of two related satirical TV series created by and starring British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and featuring the character Ali G....
. Baron Cohen also created the theme music for the popular CBBC wildlife television show "Serious Jungle" as well as the other programmes in the "Serious..." series.
After scoring the Borat movie, Erran was asked by the Turan Alem Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra to compose a classical piece containing Kazakh influences.
In 2008, Cohen released an album entitled "Songs in the Key of Hanukkah" collaborating with Yasmin Levy
Yasmin Levy
Yasmin Levy , born on December 23, 1975 in Jerusalem, is an Israeli singer-songwriter of Judaeo-Spanish music.-Career:Her late father, Isaac Levy, was a composer and cantor, pioneer researcher into the long and rich history of the Ladino music and culture of Spanish Jewry and its diaspora, being...
, Jules Brookes, Y-Love
Y-Love
Yitz Jordan , better known by his stage name Y-Love, is a Brooklyn-based African-American Hasidic Jewish hip hop artist...
, Dana Kerstein, Idan Raichel
Idan Raichel
Idan Raichel is an Israeli singer-songwriter and a musician, known for his Idan Raichel Project , distinctive for its fusion of electronics, traditional Hebrew texts, Middle Eastern and Ethiopian music. Prior to the Project, Raichel was a keyboardist, collaborating with artists such as Ivri Lider...
and Avivit Caspi, in English, Hebrew, Yiddish and Ladino. The project included traditional melodies, while incorporating hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
. A music video of "Dreidel" shows Chassidim rapping on the traditional Hanukkah song. The album was released in November and Cohen was interviewed on Fresh Air
Fresh Air
Fresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States. The show is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its longtime host is Terry Gross. , the show was syndicated to 450 stations and claimed 4.5 million listeners. The show...
in December.
Erran has recently provided the title music for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
show "World's Craziest Fools" presented by Mr T from the 80's TV show The A-Team
The A-Team
The A-Team is an American action adventure television series about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel who work as soldiers of fortune, while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a "crime they didn't commit". The A-Team was created by...
.
Zohar tracks on compilations
- Buddha Bar by Claude Challe
- Deep Roots and Future Grooves
- Whirl-Y-Waves Vol 2
- Arabica I & II
- World Chill by Martin MoralesMartín MoralesMartín Morales is a footballer currently playing for Deportes Quindío of the Primera División in Colombia....
- Acoustic Chill by Chris CocoChris CocoChris Coco is a club/radio DJ, producer and music critic.As a club DJ, he is perhaps best known as the resident, at the hugely popular Coco Club. This underground Saturday night house music event ran from 1989 to 1994, at The Zap Club in Brighton.He is also now also playing full time in...
- Zen And The Art Of Chill
- Pathaan's Small World
Family
Erran, one of three sons, spent his formative years at the private Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' SchoolHaberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School is a British independent school for boys aged 4–19. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and of the Haileybury Group....
near London. Erran is also the brother of Hollywood actor Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Noam Baron Cohen is an English stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and voice artist. He is most widely known for his portrayal of three unorthodox fictional characters: Ali G, Borat, and Brüno...
. Erran's wife Angelique is the daughter of Robert (deceased) and Rachel Brook, members of the Sydney (Australia) Sephardi community.