Search - Bob Cooper :: Coop

Here's the Scoop on Coop

William Faust | Columbus, Ohio | 12/24/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the few discs I have seen with Bob Cooper as a leader outside of the "Kenton Presents" works on Mosaic (which I highly recommend also). Cooper was primarily a tenor sax player who got his start with Kenton and then fell into the west coast studio scene in the 1950's like many of his contemporaries. he often played unconventional reeds like oboe but this disc showcases his arranging talents. The first piece is a jazz theme and four variations which winds though several moods from swing to blues. This is followed by several standards with very interesting orchestration ranging from the big sound of a studio band to more intimate takes with tenor over rhythm section. The other players are a who's who of west coast jazz - Rosolino, Candoli, Fagerquist, Lou Levy, Mel Lewis and even Victor Feldman on vibes. Tasty stuff."

Good West Coast Sounds.

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 07/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"West Coast all the way with a fine group of players including the brilliant trombonist Frank Rosolino, vibist Victor Feldman, Lou Levy on piano, Mel Lewis on drums and Max Bennett on bass.A varied program which includes 5 standards and a 23 minute original composition by Bob Cooper consisting of 5 movements, 4 of which are derived from different bars and measures of the main theme. The last 3 movements feature an additional 4 horns (the trumpets of Pete and Conte Candoli and Don Fagerquist and trombonist Johnny Halliburton). All of the music comes off very well!Bob Cooper, Frank Rosolino, or fans of the West Coast sound of this period will want this one."