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As and instrumentalist (saxophones, clarinet, flute), JACK COOPER has performed with Manhattan Transfer, Macey Gray, Jason Alexander, Kenny Rogers, Leslie Gore, Glenn Campbell, The Temptations, The Lettermen, James Moody, Mulgrew Miller, John Fedchock,Kirk Wahlum, James Williams, the IRIS Orchestra, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and numerous other entertainers and jazz artists while working in California, New York, Texas and the Mid-South. From 1989 to 1995 Jack served as a saxophonist/woodwind specialist and staff arranger performing with the United States Army Jazz Knights, West Point, New York. Jack Cooper has written over 150 pieces ranging through studio orchestra, jazz ensemble, wind band, chamber, electro-acoustic and choral works for professional groups, colleges and high schools across the continental United States. Jack's compositioons and arrangements have been performed and recorded by Bud Shank, Gary Foster, Bobby Shew, the U. S. Army Jazz Knights, the U. S. Army Jazz Ambassadors, the U. S. Navy Commodores, the Rob Parton Jazztech Big Band, the Westchester Jazz Orchestra, the Summit Jazz Orchestra (Germany), Jazz Orchestra of the Delta, the Tony Campise Big Band, the University of Northern Iowa Jazz Ensemble One, the Brass Five, Alma Latina and numerous other high school, college and professional groups around the world. Jack has also written for jazz artists such as Gary Foster, Bobby Shew, Peter Erskine and Christian McBride as well as others. As founder, musical director and arranger for the Jazz Orchestra of the Delta, the group has recorded its first CD on the Summit Records label entitled Big Band Reflections of Cole Porter which has garnered critical acclaim in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Jack's television and media credits include music for the Jenny Jones Show, Hollywood Xtra and new broadcasts in the New York and Washington D. C. areas. He has served as a staff arranger writing jazz ensemble and concert band music for Alfred/Belwin publications since 1992. He is the recipient of Meet the Composer, Southern Arts Foundation, ASCAP and Aaron Copland Foundation grants. Jack's music is also published with ReallyGoodMusic.com, Increase Music, and Three-Two Publishing. He has earned a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Califonria State University, Los Angeles and holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. Jack is Associate Professor of Music and currently Director of Jazz Studies and Studio Music at the University of Memphis where he has been teaching since 1998.
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