Jazz vibraphonist has played with greats like Milt Hinton, Frank Wess, Jodie Christian, Barrett Deems, Gordon Brisker, Mark Levine, Ernie Krivda, Joe Lovano, and Ira Sullivan. He's released 2 CDs on Delmark Records -- Tough Town and Nutville (both of which received three-star reviews in Jazz Times and Downbeat -- with a new CD on the way, slated for Spring 2000. Sagatuck LIVE! also features Larry Luchowski (piano),, Dave Marr (bass), and Tim Davis (drums). Currently a resident of Sagatuck, MI (from whence he drives a few hours for Chicago gigs about once a month), Cooper was born in 1951 in a musical family on Chicago's south side. While studying at Michigan State University he bought his first set of vibes, and began playing in a free-form jazz workshop -- playing totally improvised music -- led by drummer Poncho Vera.
After receiving a National Endowment for the Arts grant in 1986, Cooper produced his first recording, Brilliant Shores. Also during that decade, the Jim Cooper/Bob Dogan Quintet (the jazz pianist/composer had also played with Buddy Rich and Maynard Ferguson bands) was a mainstay of the local scene. Cooper also played with the late pianist/arranger Gene Esposito in his Latin jazz group, Poco Loco.
He returned to school to finish his B.A. (1984) and music education degrees (1992), and a masters degree in 1996. In addition to performing and composing, Cooper is currently a summer jazz instructor at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and President of Lakeshore Arts Connection, Inc.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.jimcooper.net
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