Jack Cooper (American musician)
Jack Cooper | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | John Thomas Cooper, Jr. |
Born | Whittier, California, U.S. | May 14, 1963
Origin | La Habra, California, U.S. |
Genres |
|
Occupation(s) |
|
Instrument(s) |
|
Years active | 1981–present |
Labels | |
Website | |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1989–1995 |
Rank | Staff Sergeant |
Unit | USMA Band |
Jack Cooper (born John Thomas Cooper Jr., May 14, 1963) is an American composer, arranger, orchestrator, multireedist, and music educator. He has performed with, written music for and recorded by internationally known pop, jazz, and classical artists.
Intro
Cooper has performed with, written music for or recorded by internationally known pop,
Early life, musical education and influences
Jack Cooper was born in
After graduating from
Later composition studies were with David Baker, Gerald Wilson, Manny Albam, Karl Korte, and Richard Lawn; in 1999 he earned a DMA in composition from the University of Texas at Austin.[21][22][23]
His first notable professional work in Los Angeles as a multireedist was with the Kingsmen, Shari Lewis, Mateos Parseghian, the Tak Shindo Orchestra, Si Zentner, Steve Jam, the Dive, and the Last Mile.[24]
Armed forces and the West Point Jazz Knights
At age 25 (in 1989) Cooper was hired as a
While in New York he worked extensively backing entertainers and artists such as
Professional career
As instrumentalist
Cooper has played woodwind instruments professionally since the 1980s. His work includes backing
As composer (highlights)
Cooper first writing music professionally in the early 1980s. He was first hired in 1992 as a staff arranger for
Though his catalogue has a great deal of varied music, his work emphasizes the big band genre.[18] His big band writing has been featured with many groups internationally on the professional and educational levels, "...this style of jazz music (sic) is my wheel house of expertise."[23][40] Two definitive CDs were recorded in 2014 that exemplify Cooper's adeptness as a jazz orchestra composer and arranger: Mists: Charles Ives for Jazz Orchestra and Time Within Itself.[41][42] Both are recognized internationally as exceptional examples of contemporary, progressive big band composition and orchestration.[43] As a staff composer and arranger, he is featured with the BBB featuring Bernie Dresel on their acclaimed 2022 CD The Pugilist.[44] Cooper serves as Composer in Residence with the Southern California based Big Band Jazz Machine.[45]
Chamber and solo works
His Sonata for Trombone was commissioned in 1997 and has been widely performed and recorded by trombone artists including Mark Hetzler, Tom Brantley, Lance Green, Chris Buckholtz, and Michael Davidson (among others).[46] The work is recorded on two highly acclaimed recordings for Centaur Records and Summit Records. Cooper's 2nd Sonata for Trombone was completed in 2018 and recorded on the release Synthesis for SkyDeck Music. The Sonata for Alto Saxophone was commissioned for and first premiered in July 2000 at the 12th World Saxophone Congress in Montreal, Canada. It is described as belonging with "such landmark 'jazz/classical' pieces as the Phil Woods Sonata, on any recital or concert program that explores (both) these worlds."[47][48]
One of the Missing – for those lost in Iraq for euphonium was commissioned in 2007 and premiered in 2008.[49] It is a protest piece that shows the composer's anti-war stance against the Iraq War; the title is taken from the anti-war/Civil War short story and film adaptation of Ambrose Bierce.[50] The work was also used on the soundtrack of a 2011 Canadian television film broadcast on the Vision network.[51] Cooper's Violin Sonata was premiered on May 27, 2018 as part of the Barnstedter Kapellen Konserte series in Barnstedt, Germany; recording of the work for commercial release was on June 26/27 at Greve Studio in Berlin.[52][53]
Berlin, Germany
From June 2015 through August 2016 Cooper resided full-time in the
Awards and special recognition
Jack Cooper was named the Pearl Wales Professor of Music of the University of Memphis in August or 2020. He was also the 2020 recipient of the University of Memphis CCFA Dean's Creative Achievement Award and the 2010 recipient of the Distinguished Achievement in the Creative Arts Award from the
Teaching and education career
Cooper has been teaching at the collegiate level for over 25 years, earning the rank of
Timeline of professional/musical career
Audio Recordings
As featured artist, composer or producer
- 2003: Big Band Reflections of Cole Porter (Summit Records)
- 2004: Memphis Jazz Box (Ice House Records)
- 2007: Voices (Select-O-Hits)
- 2009: Out of the Bluffs (Select-O-Hits)
- 2010: The Chamber Wind Music of Jack Cooper
(Centaur Records) - 2014: Mists: Charles Ives for Jazz Orchestra (Planet Arts Records)
- 2015: Time Within Itself (Origin Records)
- 2018: Origin Suite (Origin Records)
- 2021: Songs of Berlin (GAM Music)
As composer, arranger, conductor or producer (and instrumentalist on select tracks)
- 1985: The New in You (H D C Music Publications)
- 1986: We're Back! (H D C Music Publications)
- 1987: Diversions (H D C Music Publications)
- 1988: Monstrosity! (H D C Music Publications)
- 1990: It's About Time (CSULA 890)
- 1993: The USMA Band (Mark Records DC 1401)
- 1994: Mainstream (JLFC)
- 1996: Jump Shot! (RM 169D)
- 1997: Sixth Floor Jazz (UTJO)
- 1997: Celebration! (FC)
- 1997: Fascinatin' Rhythm[73] (ROPA JAZZ)
- 1998: Games (UNI)
- 1999: Meanwhile... (OCJ Jazz)
- 2000: Once in a Blue Moon (UTJO)
- 2000: Illusion[73] (Benjamino Music)
- 2001: The Eleventh Hour[73] (Seabreeze Jazz)
- 2001 Showcase 2001[73]
- 2002: Up Your Brass (Seabreeze Jazz)
- 2002: Summertime[73] (AJE)
- 2003: Eclectikos[73] (Dekajaz)
- 2003: Standard Deviations (HDCD)
- 2003: Upside Out (Seabreeze-Vista Jazz)
- 2006: Minimal Effort[73] (UNL)
- 2011: Enriching Life With Jazz (JazzMN)[74][75]
- 2012: Peanuts for Christmas (iTunes, MP3 album)[76]
- 2013: Juletona (Daniel Engen Productions)[77]
- 2014: Sounds of the Season (BlueTom Records)[78]
- 2015: Local Color (UNI)
- 2015: Blues, Ballads and Beyond (Summit Records)
- 2016: Sound of Home (Junge Töne)
- 2016: I Can Do All Things (JWM)
- 2017: Neujahrskonzert (Aktiv Sound Records)
- 2018: Synthesis (SkyDeck Music)
- 2020: Almost Alone (ADC Recordings)
- 2021: Time Frames (Origin Classical)
- 2021: The Pugilist (DIG-IT)
- 2022: Michael Waldrop Collected Works (Origin Records)
- 2022: Crosscurrents (Horen-Schoener Music)
- 2023: Love Never Changes (JWM)
- 2023: Mosaic (Zydekool Records)
- 2024: A Tribute to the Singer Nancy Wilson (Sony-Orchard)
As instrumentalist
- 1982: Escape to Asylum (FC/parts re-released with Trend AM PM Records)
- 1983: Classical Expression (FCLP)
- 1983: Time Tripping (Trend AM PM Records)
- 1984: Primarily Jazz (Trend AM PM Records)
- 1985: Unforgettable (Trend AM PM Records)
- 1998: Live at Ringside (OCJ Jazz)
- 2003: Swingopoly[73] (NMH Jazz)
- 2003: Ninety Years of Making Music[73] (UMAA)
- 2009: Coming Through Slaughter: The Bolden Legend (SkyDeck Music)
- 2022: Small Places (CC Music)
Film, television, DVD, video
As instrumentalist/actor/interviewed
- 1988: Man Against the Mob (television movie, NBC)
- 2005: Mississippi Rising (MSNBC)
- 2010: Why I Chose... (CBS, ESPN)[79][80]
- 2018: The Unanswered Ives (Accentus Music, Arte)
- 2023: Paul Dessau: Let's Hope For The Best (Yellow Table Media GmbH, Arte)
As composer/arranger/conductor/musical director
- 1995: Twice is Nice (UMG/FirstCom)
- 2008: Candle on the Bluff Awards (PBS, WKNO)
- 2009: Candle on the Bluff Awards (PBS, WKNO)
- 2011: Live at Nine (CBS) WREG
- 2012: The Art Academy (True Story Pictures)
Published music, books, educational media, articles as reviewer
- 1995: Double Helix
- 2005: Greenwood Press) – four entries authored
- 2007: Experiencing Jazz (Routledge Publishing) – contributing author for DVD and web content[81]
- 2008: Winter Wonderland (SmartMusic)
- 2008: MTSBOA Jazz Bands 2 CD set (Heartdance Music Inc.)
- 2011: JazzTimes Magazine
- 2012: Perfectly Composed (CD ROM)[82]
- 2014: Practical Music Theory (Kendall Hunt Publishing) – music for chapter 19[83]
- 2019: Composing Jazz (SkyDeck Music) contributing author
Other artists worked with (partial list)
- Jason Alexander
- Bob Brookmeyer
- Glen Campbell
- Larry Elgart
- Lesley Gore
- Jennifer Holliday
- Abbey Lincoln
- Tony Martin
- Brian McKnight
- Mulgrew Miller
- James Moody
- Oscar Peterson
- Benny Powell
- Rufus Reid
- Molly Ringwald
- Smokey Robinson
- Ray Romano
- David Sánchez
- Roseanna Vitro
- Nancy Wilson
- The Lettermen
- The Four Tops
- The O'Jays
- The Spinners
- The Shirelles
- The Temptations
Discography (select, reviewed)
Year | Album | Primary artist producer conductor composer arranger instrumentalist |
Type | Label | U.S. | Canada | U.K. | Germany | Review Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1983 | Time Tripping | instrumentalist | Studio | Trend AM PM | Down Beat 1st Place Winner | ||||
1988 | Monstrosity! | instrumentalist composer |
# CSULA 888 | Los Angeles Times | |||||
1994 | Mainstream | arranger | Studio/Live | FC | Down Beat | ||||
1998 | Games | arranger | UNI | Down Beat best CDs of the 1990s | |||||
2003 | Big Band Reflections of Cole Porter | Primary artist producer |
Studio | Summit | JazzWeek August 22, 2003 #88 |
Jazz Journal very positive |
All About Jazz | ||
Upside Out | composer (title track) |
Sea Breeze | JazzWeek February 6, 2004 #164 |
All Music Guide | |||||
2004 | Memphis Jazz Box | producer instrumentalist composer arranger |
Studio/Live | Icehouse | Commercial Appeal | ||||
2009 | Coming Through Slaughter: The Bolden Legend | instrumentalist | Studio | SkyDeck | Exclaim! very positive |
Down Beat | |||
2010 | The Chamber Wind Music of Jack Cooper | Primary artist producer |
Centaur | Fanfare Magazine very positive | |||||
2014 | Mists: Charles Ives for Jazz Orchestra | Primary Artist | Planet Arts | JazzWeek October 6, 2014 #59 |
Roots Music Report October 26, 2014 #8 |
BBC Radio 3 November 1, 2014 playlist choice |
Jazz Podium Highly recommended |
All About Jazz Chicago Tribune 2014 Top 10 Jazz | |
2015 | Time Within Itself | composer arranger conductor |
Origin Records | JazzWeek April 13, 2015 #71 |
Jazz Journal |
All About Jazz | |||
2015 | Local Color | composer | UNI | All About Jazz | |||||
2015 | Blues, Ballads and Beyond | composer | Summit | Classical Musical Sentinel very positive |
All About Jazz | ||||
2016 | I Can Do All Things | composer | JDW Music | Roots Music Report #4 |
Amazon 'Vine Voice' | ||||
2018 | Origin Suite | composer arranger conductor |
Origin Records | JazzWeek February 26, 2018 #67 |
Jazz Journal |
All About Jazz | |||
2021 | The Pugilist | arranger | Dig-it Records | JazzWeek March 14, 2022 #23 |
DownBeat |
See also
References
- ^ Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, September 30, 2011, The Shadow of Your Smile arranged for orchestra by Jack Cooper for Aaron Neville
- ^ Sparke, Jon W. BPACC Showcase flows in with tribute to Ellington, The Commercial Appeal, August 28, 2009. Jack Cooper, musical director/arranger for Joyce Cobb and Donald Brown
- ^ Shew, Jazz Orchestra Bring Out Best in Each Other. Austin American-Statesman, April 28, 1997, pp. E3, Music for Shew by Jack Cooper, also on the 2001 CD Showcase
- ^ McBride stresses work, luck, Austin American-Statesman, April 1, 1997, Page E2. Music for McBride by Jack Cooper, also on the 2009 CD Voices
- ^ The Westchester Jazz Orchestra Archived November 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, commissioned work and premiered September 24, 2005
- ^ Scene for Brass commissioned by the Dallas Winds and premiered on September 14, 2004
- ^ Find a Grave, John Thomas Cooper grave site and obituary
- ^ "History of La Habra". Lahabramasons.com. January 8, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Jack Cooper's mother is Georgie Blanton Finlay Cooper from Greenville, Mississippi who is direct lineage to Harriet Blanton Theobald
- ^ Blanton-Smith Collection, University of Mississippi. Department of Archives and Special Collections. University, MS 38677, USA
- ^ "Musicians Give Recital, Spring Concert Next." Georgie Cooper, piano. East Whittier Review. October 24, 1968. pp. 42
- ^ "Festival of Song" LP, Georgie Cooper - pianist
- ^ "Messiah at 4 PM" Robert Voris - bass. Los Angeles Times. December 17, 1966. pp. 22
- ^ Focus on the Arts WUMR Radio interview with D.J. Malvin Massey (reviewed from recording), talking about Cooper's background in music, February 2004
- ^ Cooper's adeptness as a clarinetist is demonstrated on "Memphis Blues" and "Tiger Rag" from the CD release Ninety Years of Making Music in Memphis: The University of Memphis
- ^ Cooper adeptness on the alto sax is demonstrated on his composition "The Protagonist" on Youtube
- ^ Fullerton College Music Department, Alumni Biographical page
- ^ a b c d Blank, Chistopher. Ballet Memphis takes a jazzy step – Choreographer Mark Godden swings to a new set of beats by Big Band jazz arranger Jack Cooper. The Commercial Appeal, February 10, 2006.
- ^ Cooper, Jack. "Solace" a Three Movement Composition for Saxophone Soloist and 18 Piece Jazz Orchestra. Los Angeles: California State University, 1989. M.A. THESIS
- ^ April 4, 2014, recording completed at Systems Two Recording in Brooklyn, New York of Cooper's 8 adaptations/orchestrations of Charles Ives music, Luis Bonilla producer. Released August 22, 2014 on the Planet Arts Records label
- ^ Alumni Biographical page (jazz) Archived January 6, 2013, at archive.today, The University of Texas, Butler School of Music
- OCLC 44537553
- ^ a b "Gerald is 95 now, I had studied with him in Los Angeles...", Jack Cooper. interview with Kacky Walton, Checking on the Arts, Natl. Public Radio, WKNO-FM, Memphis, October 9, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "Jack Cooper : Search Results". Alfred.com. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Department of the Army Enlistment and Honorable discharge records from Cooper, Jack T., orders 196–1 dated November 30, 1989 and orders 33–5, dated February 22, 1995
- ^ "Nixon Funeral Departure Stewart Air Base, Apr 26 1994". C-SPAN.org. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Lover Man, The Memphis Jazz Orchestra, Jack Cooper, solo/lead alto sax, June 2, 2013.
- ^ Jeremy Shrader (March 18, 2010). "NMHSummerWind.mov". YouTube. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Dave Lisik (October 1, 2012). "Coming Through Slaughter I, Dave Lisik Orchestra, Tim Hagans, Donny McCaslin, Matt Wilson". YouTube. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Festival Virtuosi, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil". Virtuosi.com.br. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Western States Jazz Festival, Los Angeles, CA. clarinet and composer – guest artist on main concert, 1 March 2013". Frequency.com. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Cooper featured with the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra, Fat Chops Big Band, Great Birmingham Trombone Company, 6–9 July, 2013" (PDF). Visitbirmingham.com. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "私が糖尿病予防で日頃から気をつけていることは運動と食事". ihs45.org. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- Commercial Appeal, September 20, 2000. Cooper – alto saxophone and clarinet soloist, IRIS Orchestra
- Commercial Appeal, November 23, 2014. Cooper – tenor saxophone soloist on Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker adaptations, MSO Big Band
- ^ "St Martin in the Bull Ring » Sat 6th July Concert: Oksana Poleshook, International Russian Concert Pianist". Bullring.org. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ IMDb Listing, Jack Cooper, also refer to Double Helix
- ^ UNI Jazz Ensemble Band One, playing The Cage (arr. Jack Cooper) at the North Sea Jazz Festival, July 10, 1998
- ^ Blank, Christopher. Spirit of jazz sets stage for tribute – Ballet premieres divergent pieces, The Commercial Appeal, February 13, 2006.
- ^ Yokohama Aoba Jazz Band and Big Band de Sarreguemines are examples of international groups using Cooper's music.
- ^ Jack Cooper Interprets Ives On New CD, U of Memphis CCFA Newsletter "Voices" Winter 2015
- ^ Interview with Scott Ellsworth on jazz radio show "Scoot's Place", Saturday, May 18, 2018
- ^ Jazz, All About (December 25, 2015). "Notable and Nearly Missed 2015". All About Jazz. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ All About Jazz review, C. Michael Bailey, Track review of "Lulu's Back In Town", The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel: The Pugilist, July 14, 2022
- ^ Composer in Residence - Jack Cooper, Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine
- ^ "Sonata for Trombone, Eastern Trombone Workshop, 16 March 2011, Washington D.C., Michael Davidson – trombone soloist" (PDF). Usarmyband.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Dempsey, David. Sonata for Saxophone, Saxophone Journal, Jan./Feb. 2012, pp 14
- ^ XII° Congrès Mondial du Saxophone, July 9th, 2000, World Premiere of the Sonata for Alto Sax (Université du Québec à Montréal) Montréal, Québec, Canada 536.pair.com
- ^ "One Of The Missing, ITEA International Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, 2008". Iteaonline.org. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Today, section 2.2.4 of Euphonium Repertiore, Wikipedia – The Free Encyclopedia
- ^ Teens Gone Wrong, Volume 1,, television series Vision of Youth Ministry, VisionTV 2011
- ^ GEIGE UND PIANO, Barnstedter Kapellen Konserte, May 27, 2018, Barnstedt Germany
- ^ YouTube. Cooper Sonata for Violin and Piano. Live performance in Berlin, Germany. Greve Studio. June 26, 2018
- ^ "Berlin Jazz Orchestra - Home". Berlin Jazz Orchestra. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Bob Mehr's Memphis Music Beat: "Beale Street Saturday Night" comes back and more". Commercialappeal.com. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Concerts". Cm-potsdam.de. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Bastian Lee Jones (July 4, 2016). "Bastian Lee Jones interviews Dr. Knut Andreas (Klassik am Weberplatz Potsdam)". YouTube. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Compass Big Band Berlin". Facebook.com. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Kunstfabrik Schlot Berlin concerts, January 27, 2016 and March 9, 2017, five new arrangements played of Cooper's
- ^ "hdpk begrüßt Jack Cooper als ersten "artist in residence"". Hdpk.de. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ University of Erfurt teaching, seminar and concert, Summer semester 2022
- ^ klavieresque (July 3, 2016). "'SONGS OF BERLIN' Marc Secara, Jiggs Whigham, Berlin Jazz Orchestra, arr. and cond. Jack Cooper". YouTube. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ ""In dieser Stadt" Marc Secara, Jiggs Whigham Berlin Jazz Orchestra, arr. and cond. Jack Cooper". YouTube. June 14, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Marc Secara and the Berlin Jazz Orchestra with Peter Kraus, September 18, 2017" (PDF). Wuehlmaeuse.de. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Berlin Jazz Orchester und Marc Secara in Rheinsberg, Märkische Allgemeine - Ihre Zeitung aus Brandenburg, 10:24 18.11.2018
- ^ "2010 recipient of the Distinguished Achievement in the Creative Arts Award". Emephis.edu. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Ellis, Bill. Premier Player Awards To Honor, The Commercial Appeal, March 1, 2003
- ^ "Aaron Copland Fund Awards $500,000 in Recording Grants". Newmusicbox.org. May 29, 2003. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ U of M Music Professors Awarded ASCAP Awards, Memphis Daily News - Newsmakers, VOL. 117, NO. 161, Wednesday, September 10, 2003
- ^ "Events". jazz.kug.ac.at. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Hot House arr. Jack Cooper- 2012 Arizona All State Jazz Band conducted by Jack Cooper
- ^ Profile for Jack Cooper, WUMR radio host
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Jack Cooper - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- OCLC 774893336
- ^ Jazz, All About (May 8, 2012). "Bob Lark Alumni Band / Bob Curnow / JazzMN Big Band". All About Jazz. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ Peanuts for Christmas – Die Big Band Der Lübecker Hochschulen, released 4. December 2012, MP3 CD, Winter Wonderland, arr. Jack Cooper (4:25)
- ^ Juletona – Trondheim Ballroom Orkester, Trondheim Norway, December 2, 2013, MP3 CD, Winter Wonderland, arr. Jack Cooper (4:25)
- Oh Holy Night" arranged by Jack Cooper
- ^ Jack Cooper-solo tenor sax, Valerie chose... the University of Memphis, uofmemphisvideos
- ^ Jack Cooper-solo tenor sax, Cathy chose... the University of Memphis, uofmemphisvideos
- ^ U or Memphis School of Music, UOM137-FY1112/3M
- ISBN 978-1-4652-1790-5
External links
- Jack Cooper discography at Discogs
- Jack Cooper at AllMusic
- Jack Cooper on SoundCloud