American jazz musician
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
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
As leader[edit]
- On Target (Jazz Mania, 1993)
- The Irish Connection (SteepleChase, 1996)
- Round Trip (SteepleChase, 1997)
- Postcard from Vancouver (Jazz Focus, 1998)[9]
As sideman[edit]
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
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
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)
