Jeff Cohen studied at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore with Lillian Freundlich before moving to France to study piano and chamber music at the Conservatoire National de Paris with Reine Gianoli and Geneviève Joy. He continued his studies with Leon Fleisher and Peter Feuchtwanger.
As a pianist, Cohen has collaborated with numerous singers and instrumentalists, such as Roberto Alagna, John Aler, June Anderson, Cecilia Bartoli, Jane Birkin, Dale Duesing, Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Angela Gheorghiu, Ivry Gitlis, Ida Haendel, Sumi Jo, Steve Lacy, Noël Lee, Ute Lemper,  François Le Roux, Dame Felicity Lott and Mady Mesplé, among others.
He has made a number of recordings, including a live recital at La Scala with Angela Gheorghiu, various compilations of French mélodie with François Le Roux, of Kurt Weill and cabaret songs with Ute Lemper, as well as two-piano works with Noel Lee. He has assisted conductors such as Sir George Solti, Christopher Hogwood, John Nelson and Michel Plasson on recordings with Decca and EMI.
Last November, Jeff Cohen was musical director and pianist in the Opéra Français de New York production, Debussy and Poe. He appeared as pianist in Peter Brook’s "Impressions de Pelléas", as well as Roman Polanski’s staging of the play "Masterclass" in Paris. He conducted Giorgio Strehler’s production of Der Dreigroschenoper and assisted Myung-Whung Chung on Otello at the opening season of the Paris Bastille Opera.
French television aired "Jeff d’orchestre" during several years, a show written and presented by Jeff Cohen which introduced music to children. He has also composed original music for feature films, plays, and dance pieces.
Mr. Cohen resides in Paris and is currently professor of mélodie and Lied at the Conservatoire National. In June 2006, Jeff Cohen was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.