Ray Copeland
Encyclopedia
Ray Copeland was a jazz
trumpet player and teacher. Throughout his career he participated on many swing
and hard bop
dates, appearing on the well known Monk's Music
by Thelonious Monk
in 1956. Copeland played with a swinging, upbeat approach, but was undoubtedly overshadowed by other top trumpeters of the era such as Lee Morgan
and Clifford Brown
. He toured with Thelonious Monk in 1968, and appeared at the 1973 Newport Jazz Festival
. Later, Copeland was a Music Professor at Hampshire College
teaching jazz composition. His son Keith Copeland
is a noted jazz drummer.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trumpet player and teacher. Throughout his career he participated on many swing
Swing (genre)
Swing music, also known as swing jazz or simply swing, is a form of jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and became a distinctive style by 1935 in the United States...
and hard bop
Hard bop
Hard bop is a style of jazz that is an extension of bebop music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz which incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospel music, and blues, especially in the saxophone and piano...
dates, appearing on the well known Monk's Music
Monk's Music
Monk's Music is a 1957 album by Thelonious Monk's jazz septet. It was recorded in New York on June 26, 1957. The first song "Abide With Me"—a hymn by W. H. Monk—is an austere rendition played only by the septet's horn section. The song "Ruby, My Dear" is performed only by Monk, Coleman Hawkins,...
by Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
in 1956. Copeland played with a swinging, upbeat approach, but was undoubtedly overshadowed by other top trumpeters of the era such as Lee Morgan
Lee Morgan
Edward Lee Morgan was an American hard bop trumpeter.-Biography:...
and Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown , aka "Brownie," was an influential and highly rated American jazz trumpeter. He died aged 25, leaving behind only four years' worth of recordings...
. He toured with Thelonious Monk in 1968, and appeared at the 1973 Newport Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard, who, together with husband Louis Lorillard, financed the festival for many years. The couple hired jazz impresario George Wein to organize the...
. Later, Copeland was a Music Professor at Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1965 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts...
teaching jazz composition. His son Keith Copeland
Keith Copeland
Keith Copeland is a jazz drummer and music educator.- As a musician :His father Ray Copeland was a jazz trumpet player, and he learned some by watching him, but he decided to go into drums after study's Art Blakey's records with The Jazz Messengers. In his teens he was sitting in with Barry...
is a noted jazz drummer.
Discography
- Booker ErvinBooker ErvinBooker Telleferro Ervin II was an American tenor saxophone player. He was perhaps best known for his association with bassist Charles Mingus....
: Booker ´N´ Brass (Pacific, 1967) - Thelonious MonkThelonious MonkThelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
: Trio/Blue Monk (Prestige, 1952–54); MONK (Prestige, 1952–54) - Randy WestonRandy WestonRandy Weston , is an American jazz pianist and composer, of Jamaican parentage.-Biography:Weston studied classical piano as a child. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he ran a restaurant that was frequented by many of the leading bebop musicians...
: The Modern Art Of Jazz (Dawn, 1956) - Randy Weston: Monterey, '66 (Verve): 1966; re-released (Polygram): 1994
- Phil WoodsPhil WoodsPhilip Wells Woods is an American jazz bebop alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader and composer.-Biography:...
: Sugan (OJC, 1957) - Thelonious MonkThelonious MonkThelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
: Thelonious Monk with John ColtraneThelonious Monk with John ColtraneThelonious Monk with John Coltrane is a 1957 album by Thelonious Monk originally recorded for Riverside Records. It was recorded while Monk was engaged in a six-month stay at New York's legendary Five Spot in 1957 with his quartet of the time, which included Coltrane...
(Riverside, 1957)