Quick Facts
Biography
Keith Copeland (born in New York City on April 18, 1946, died in Germany on February 14, 2015 ) was a jazz drummer and music educator.
As a musician
His father Ray Copeland was a jazz trumpet player, and he learned some by watching him, but he decided to go into drums after study's Art Blakey's records with The Jazz Messengers. In his teens he was sitting in with Barry Harris's group. He later worked with the Heath Brothers, but Percy Heath disliked his style leading to arguments and ultimately to Copeland quitting. He also worked with Sam Jones, Billy Taylor, Johnny Griffin, Stevie Wonder, Rory Stuart, George Russell, and Hank Jones. He led his own European-based groups, including one with Irish bassist Ronan Guilfoyle.
Discography
- On Target (JazzMania, 1993)
- The Irish Connection Trio (SteepleChase, 1996)
With Paul Bley
- BeBopBeBopBeBopBeBop (SteepleChase, 1990)
With Stanley Cowell
- Sienna (steepleChase, 1989)
With Rory Stuart
- Hurricane (Sunnyside, 1986)
With Martin Wind
- Tender Waves (A Records,1995)
As an educator
Keith Copeland went on to be an educator of jazz musicians. He taught at a number of universities in the USA, including New School University and Rutgers & Berklee College of Music, before moving to Germany in 1992 and teaching there in the Hochschule system. Some of his notable students include Terri Lyne Carrington and Adam Cruz.