Jerome Cooper facts for kids

Jerome Douglas Cooper (born December 14, 1946 – died May 6, 2015) was an American musician. He was famous for playing free jazz. This is a style of jazz music that gives musicians a lot of freedom to create sounds.

Jerome Cooper played many instruments. He was best known for playing the drums. But he also played the balafon, which is like a wooden xylophone. He played the chirimia, a type of wind instrument, and electronic instruments too. He called himself a "multi-dimensional drummer." This meant his music had many layers of sounds and rhythms. People who reviewed his music said he was a "sparkling drummer" and a "magician" with his instruments.

Jerome Cooper's Musical Journey

Jerome Cooper started learning music in the late 1950s. He studied with famous teachers like Oliver Coleman and Walter Dyett. Later, he went to the American Conservatory of Music.

In 1968, he worked with musicians like Oscar Brown, Jr. and Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre. Soon after, he moved to Europe. There, he played with many great jazz artists. These included Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Steve Lacy. He even traveled to Gambia and Senegal in Africa.

Jerome came back to the U.S. in 1971. He joined a group called the Revolutionary Ensemble. In this group, he played drums, piano, flute, and even the bugle. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he continued to play with many other jazz legends. Some of these were Sam Rivers, Anthony Braxton, and Cecil Taylor.

Jerome Cooper's Albums

Jerome Cooper released many albums during his career. He made some albums by himself or with a co-leader. He also played on albums with the Revolutionary Ensemble and as a sideman for other artists.

As a leader or co-leader

With the Revolutionary Ensemble

• 1972: Vietnam (ESP-Disk)
• 1972: Manhattan Cycles (India Navigation)
• 1975: The Psyche (RE Records)
• 1976: The Peoples Republic (A&M/Horizon)
• 1977: Revolutionary Ensemble (Enja)
• 2004: And Now... (Pi Recordings)
• 2008: Beyond the Boundary of Time (Mutable)
• 2012: Counterparts (Mutable)

As a sideman

Jerome Cooper also played on albums for other musicians. Here are some of them:

With Lester Bowie

• Fast Last! (Muse, 1974)

With Anthony Braxton

• New York, Fall 1974 (Arista, 1974)

With Ted Daniel

• Tapestry (Porter, 2008)

With Leroy Jenkins and The Jazz Composer's Orchestra

• For Players Only (JCOA, 1975)

With Rahsaan Roland Kirk

• Live in Paris, Vol. 1 (France's Concert Records, 1988)
• Live in Paris, Vol. 2 (France's Concert Records, 1988)
• Dog Years in the Fourth Ring (32 Jazz, 1970 [1997])

With Steve Lacy

• Wordless (Futura, 2009)

With Marcello Melis

• Perdas De Fogu (Vista, 1975)

With Roscoe Mitchell and Don Moye

• Wildflowers 5: The New York Loft Jazz Sessions (one track) (Douglas, 1997); released on CD as Wildflowers: The New York Loft Jazz Sessions - Complete (Knit Classics, 1999)

With Alan Silva

• Seasons (BYG Records, 1971)
• My Country (Leo, 1989)

With Cecil Taylor

• It is in the Brewing Luminous (hat Art, 1980)

With Clifford Thornton

• Communications Network (Third World, 1972)

His Passing

Jerome Cooper passed away in Brooklyn, New York, on May 6, 2015. He was 68 years old. His daughter, Levanah Cummins-Cooper, shared that he died due to health problems.