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BIOGRAPHY
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Alto saxophonist and vocalist Sheila Cooper has been noted repeatedly in the international jazz press not only for her mastery uncommon in one who is both a singer and a horn player, but also as a musician who plays and sings with great emotional depth - "a subtly dramatic storytelling vocalist and alto sax player ...Whether she is singing or playing alto, her music has a plaintive quality that gives every phrase extra poignancy... it is blues for the very sophisticated." (TUCSON CITIZEN, USA) - "incredible warmth and intimacy... enormous depth of feeling" (JAZZWISE MAGAZINE, UK).
Now with "Kiss and Tell", her upcoming release on Candid Records, Sheila Cooper brings her songwriting skills to the fore, with eight inspired new compositions that match Sheila's emotional breadth as a performer, from humorous ("Man Overboard", "Just Be Livin' In It"), to romantic ("Kiss and Tell") to searching ("Phoenix Rising", "The Home Inside My Heart"). Backed by masterful New York musicians Gary Versace on piano, organ, and accordian, Ed Howard on acoustic bass, and Billy Drummond on drums, with guest appearances by guitarist John Hart and percussionist Luis Ribeiro, Sheila and her band create grooving, soulful and impassioned moods on these originals and the fresh reworkings of standards that complete the set.
Born and raised in Canada, Sheila honed her craft on New York City's jazz training grounds and
has recorded and performed with internationally-known musicians such as David Liebman,
Kenny Wheeler, Randy Brecker, Nancy Wilson, Renee Rosnes,
Jorge Rossy, and
Clark Terry. From her former home base in New York City, Sheila toured Europe as
a leader for ten years and appeared with her quartet in many concerts, clubs and festivals
in Canada and the US. Sheila's musical life has also brought her to Japan and, back in
New York, to the Broadway stage where she appeared as actress, saxophonist and vocalist
in the Joel Grey revival of "Cabaret".
"Tales of Love and Longing", a set of duets with revered Austrian pianist
Fritz Pauer, was released internationally on the London jazz label Candid Records
in spring 2008 to worldwide critical acclaim, and evolved from the collaboration with
Fritz that began after Sheila left jazz mecca New York City for Vienna in late 2006. Her
third album as vocalist, saxophonist and co-arranger contains 10 stunning ballads with
themes ranging from loss and longing to hope and promise.
Cooper's debut album "Since You Were Mine" was released in 2000
(Panorama Records) and
contained a mix of familiar and seldom-heard songs featuring Renee Rosnes,
Billy Drummond
and Scott Colley. It was quickly described as "the best jazz vocal debut" in many years
(Doug Moody, "Moody's Mood" KMFB-FM, California, USA). Her second album
"While the World is in Slumber" featuring
John Hart, Marcello Pellitteri and Chris
Berger also showcased Sheila's trademark quirky yet elegant arranging skills.
In contrast to the debut album, it included two original compositions
(one vocal, one instrumental).
When asked whether she prefers playing her saxophone or singing, Sheila replies,
"I love the one I'm with: the saxophone with its groove, energy and big sound offers
the possibility to discover something new with each solo, and singing, on the other
hand, enables me to tell completely personal stories and live them out in 5 or
6 minutes." As music journalist/author Will Friedwald says in the
album's liner notes: "it takes an uncommon talent to master both muses."
