Jack Cooper
Jack Cooper grew up in Los Angeles in a rich musical environment of many styles of music. This is reflected in his wide range of musical works all the way from chamber music through his large ensemble, orchestral and vocal writing.
Jack has served as staff arranger with the Berlin Jazz Orchestra since 2015; the BJO’s 2021 critically acclaimed album release “Songs of Berlin” was written and conducted by Cooper. From 1989 thru 1995, he severed in the sax section and as staff arranger touring and recording with the U.S. Army Jazz Knights. As a woodwind doubler, he has performed with Manhattan Transfer, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Macey Gray, the Temptations and many others; his lead alto and woodwind playing can be heard on the 2009 Sky Deck release “Coming Through Slaughter.” Internationally acclaimed recordings of his compositions and arrangements include “Mists: Charles Ives for Jazz Orchestra” (Planet Arts Recordings), “Time Within Itself” (Origin), “Big Band Reflections of Cole Porter,” (Summit) and “The Chamber Wind Music of Jack Cooper” (Centaur). He has written music for television programming, commercials, modern dance and ballet; Jack is the musical director the Jazz Orchestra of the Delta.
He is currently Professor of Music (jazz studies) at the University of Memphis Scheidt School of Music (since 1998). He served on the faculty of the Hochschule der populären Künste in Berlin (2015-16) and also served as a writer and conductor with the Young Voices of Brandenburg. Jack has appeared as a clinician, lecturer, adjudicator and guest conductor at numerous music festivals, conferences, universities and schools throughout the United States, South America and Europe. He currently lives in both Memphis TN and in the Schöneberg district of Berlin (Germany).