Keith Copeland (born in New York City on April 18, 1946, died in Germany on February 14, 2015)[1] was a jazz drummer and music educator.

Career

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His father, Ray Copeland, was a jazz trumpeter, and he learned by watching him, but he decided to play drums after studying Art Blakey's records with The Jazz Messengers.

In his teens he played with Barry Harris.[2] He later worked with the Heath Brothers, but Percy Heath disliked his style, leading to arguments and to Copeland quitting.[3]

During his musical career, Copeland played with Sam Jones, Billy Taylor, Johnny Griffin, Stevie Wonder, Rory Stuart, George Russell, and Hank Jones.[4] He also led his own European-based groups, including one with Irish bassist Ronan Guilfoyle.

Copeland taught at The New School University in New York City, Rutgers, and Berklee College of Music before moving to Germany in 1992 and teaching in the Hochschule system. His students include Terri Lyne Carrington,[5][6] Darren Beckett and Adam Cruz.[7]

Discography

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Source:[8]

As leader

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  • On Target (Jazz Mania, 1993)
  • The Irish Connection (SteepleChase, 1996)
  • Round Trip (SteepleChase, 1997)
  • Postcard from Vancouver (Jazz Focus, 1998)[9]

As sideman

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With Howard Alden

With Ben Besiakov

With Paul Bley

With Joshua Breakstone

With Charles Brown

With Chris Conner

  • As Time Goes by (Enja, 1992)

With Stanley Cowell

With Meredith d'Ambrosio

With John Dankworth

  • Echoes of Harlem (Compendia, 1988)[13]

With Stanton Davis

  • Brighter Days (Outrageous Records Incorporated, 1977)[14]

With Frank Foster and the SDR Big Band

  • A Fresh Taste of the Blues (Intercord, 1996)[15]

With Hugh Frasier/Jean Toussaint Quartet

  • Back to Back (Jazz Focus, 1998)[16]

With David Gazarov

  • Autumnal Giant Steps (Episode Records, 1994)[17]

With Al Grey

  • Christmas Stockin' Stuffer (Capri, 1992)

With Johnny Griffin

With Johnny Hartman

With the Heath Brothers

With Sam Jones

With Mark Kirk

With Ann Malcolm

  • Incident'ly (Sound Hills Records, 1994)[19]

With Susannah McCorkle

With Sandy McLeod

  • Conversations with Love (CGM, 2003)[20]

With Jackie Paris

With Bill Pierce

With Mike Richmond

With Bob Rockwell

  • Shades of Blue (SteepleChase, 1996)[24]

With Charlie Rouse

With George Russell

With Perico Sambeat

  • Uptown Dance (EGT, 1992)

With Larry Schneider

With Jurgen Seefelder

  • Naide (Westwind Records, 1996)[27]

With Louis Smith

  • Ballads for Lulu (SteepleChase, 1990)[28]
  • Once in a While (SteepleChase, 2000)[29]

With Rory Stuart

With Billy Taylor

With Chris Walden

  • Ticino (ACT, 1996)[31]

With Chris White

  • The Chris White Project (Muse, 1992)[32]

With Martin Wind

  • Gone with the Wind (September, 1993) with Bill Mays[33]
  • Tender Waves (A Records, 1995)

References

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  1. ^ "Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music - COPELAND, Keith".
  2. ^ Thinking in jazz: the infinite art of improvisation by Paul Berliner, pgs 314, 331, 332, 364, 410, 423, 426, and 442
  3. ^ I walked with giants: the autobiography of Jimmy Heath by Jimmy Heath and Joseph McLaren, pgs 177, 184, and 185
  4. ^ "Mostly music: Conversations with Mr KC - Keith Copeland Interviewed - Part 2". 4 May 2014.
  5. ^ The drummer's almanac by Jon Cohan
  6. ^ Ebony, April 1977
  7. ^ The rough guide to jazz by Ian Carr, Digby Fairweather, Brian Priestley, pg iii
  8. ^ "Keith Copeland - record archive". 2021-09-16. Archived from the original on 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2023-02-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "Keith Copeland | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  10. ^ You Stepped out of a Dream - Ben Besiakov | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-13
  11. ^ The Cove - Meredith d'Ambrosio | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-13
  12. ^ Love Is Not a Game - Meredith d'Ambrosio | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-14
  13. ^ Echoes of Harlem - John Dankworth | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-13
  14. ^ Stanton Davis' Ghetto/Mysticism - Brighter Days, 15 March 2011, retrieved 2023-02-13
  15. ^ Frank Foster And The SDR Big Band - A Fresh Taste Of The Blues, 1996, retrieved 2023-02-14
  16. ^ Hugh Fraser - Back to Back Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-14
  17. ^ David Gazarov - Autumnal Giant Steps Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-14
  18. ^ "Lavender Mist - Mark Kirk | Release Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  19. ^ Ann Malcolm - Incident'ly, 1994, retrieved 2023-02-13
  20. ^ Conversation With Love - Cindy McLeod | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-14
  21. ^ Jackie Paris - Nobody Else But Me Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-13
  22. ^ The Complete William the Conqueror Sessions - Bill Pierce | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-13
  23. ^ Dance for Andy - Mike Richmond | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-13
  24. ^ Shades of Blue - Bob Rockwell | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-14
  25. ^ a b Cook, Richard (2008). The Penguin guide to jazz recordings. Brian Morton (Ninth ed.). London. ISBN 978-0-14-103401-0. OCLC 223804125.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  26. ^ Freedom Jazz Dance - Larry Schneider | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-14
  27. ^ Jurgen Seefelder - Naide Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-14
  28. ^ Ballads for Lulu - Louis Smith | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-13
  29. ^ Once in a While - Louis Smith | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-14
  30. ^ Hurricane - Rory Stuart | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-13
  31. ^ Chris Walden - Ticino, 1996, retrieved 2023-02-14
  32. ^ The Chris White Project - Chris White | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-02-14
  33. ^ Martin Wind, Bill Mays, Keith Copeland - Gone With The Wind, 18 October 1993, retrieved 2023-02-13