Sol Cyrans Innernational & Caro d'Offay Gallery Present:

KELAN PHIL COHRAN

Artist Statement

African people have been involved in singing and playing instruments since the entire span of their known existence (at least 4 million years).  Many of the problems living together were solved over generations thru the language of song.  All of the art forms of antiquity were part of harmonic life (singing, dancing, painting, and sculpting).  Today we have music in abundance that lacks purpose.  We lost the respect and the power of our ancestors in these spiritual sciences.  As a result instead of benefiting from proper use of art we self-destruct as toxicities from harmful thoughts, sounds, and images contaminate the mind with negative energies.  It is time for enlightened artist to step forward to share their light.   
I hope to use the influence I have on the artistic community to stimulate creativity in the same bed as mortality and purpose.  The energy in today’s world demands a voice of reason, consultation, a voice of vision, a voice of concern.  It is the responsibilities of all of us to reshape the world we live in according to the cosmic order captured in music, art, and culture.  Cosmic order is in everything from the smallest discernable cell to the vastness of the universe.  Responsibility lies on the artists who are the social architects of the world.  We are experiencing a change of processes, a change of the social order, the mass media coverage of the Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina was an awakening, we are 1world facing the gaze of enlightened people.  We are no longer isolated we can no longer afford to live by the concepts of the past.  It is time for us to present a balanced view on humanity.     -  Kelan Phil Cohran

Kelan Phil Cohran studies ancient tuning systems and teaches the original approach to music, all the while captivating audiences around the globe.  He mentored The Pharaohs (who later became Earth, Wind, & Fire), Khaili El Zarbar, Patricia Ann Smith, Bo Bo Brown, and Khari Lemuel.  One notable vocalist who benefited from his musical system is Chaka Khan.  Many of Kelan Phil Cohran works were first developed in ensemble.  He wrote the score to African Skies and produced several lectures and shows for the Alder Planetarium including:  Benjamin Bannaker, Slavery and Astronomy, A Tribute to Sun Ra, and Metamorphosis: A History of Jazz.  The Chinese Minister of Culture invited KPC to lecture & perform at the Conservatory of Traditional Music in Beijing and Xian in 1994. The Chinese anointed Phil Cohran the name ‘Kelan,’which means Holy Scripture in Mandarin. 
"There has yet to be a paradigm designed that can successfully map the contributions of trumpeter, instrument designer, scholar, shaman, community activist, and educator Kelan Phil Cohran" (May 2001, Issue 207, Wire Magazine). Kelan Phil Cohran resides in Chicago and is the resident artist at Northeastern Illinois University Center for Inner City Studies where he teaches weekly music workshops to children and adults, free of charge.        www.philcohran.co