Chris "Sasquatch" Cohick plays saxophone with Penelope and the UNusual Suspects.  His formal musical training began in elementary school, where he was presented with the challenge of a violin.  Quickly seeing, or rather hearing the error of their ways Chris' parents replaced the violin with a clarinet.  Chris switched to tenor sax in junior high, and played in concert and jazz bands through high school, picking up some alto sax, soprano sax and flute experience along the way.

Chris began his college career studying saxophone performance with Dr. Tim Timmons at the UMKC Conservatory of Music, where he played primarily baritone saxophone in jazz band and a sax quartet.   It was during this time that Chris realized he was probably about as good as he was going to get without doing some serious practicing.  So he left the Conservatory and buried his nose in a stack of books, emerging years later with a degree in biology.  Ever the glutton for punishment, he went on to study molecular biology at UMKC and KU Med. Center.

Years passed.

People had been born and were now of voting age since Chris had last played seriously.  His younger brother Craig had been enjoying several years of success playing trumpet with Cotton Candy & So Many Men.  In an alarming display of questionable judgment, Craig invited Chris to sit in on a practice with Cottons' band.  Expecting only an evening of amusement, Chris was surprised to receive an invitation to play with the band at their next gig.  After playing in Cotton's band for several years, Chris joined fellow Cotton Candy alumni Jimmy Nickelsen and John Altevogt and performs regularly with them in The Jimmy Nickelsen Band.  While attending a blues jam at The Phoenix Bar & Grill, Chris became smitten with a beautiful blonde vocalist, and has been following her around ever since.  Seeing as how he was always around anyway, Chris was asked to join Penelope and The UNusual Suspects.

Chris describes his playing style as serendipitous.  Although his classical training serves him well, the Kansas City blues scene has taught him to learn to play more "by ear".  His sax influences include both legends like Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Sonny Rollins, as well as contemporary saxophonists such as  David Sanborn, Michael Brecker, Joshua Redman, Jeff Coffin, Branford Marsalis, and Bleeding Gums Murphy.

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