Marc Copland Trio featuring John Hebert and Colin Stranahan
Marc Copland - piano
John Hebert - bass
Colin Stranahan - drums
It doesn’t seem right to think of him as an elder statesman, but pianist and composer Marc Copland (born 1948), has been spinning out sounds like no other pianist since the mid-1970’s. His output as a leader is staggering: over 40 critically acclaimed CDs, in solos, duos, trios, quartets and quintets. The albums, recorded for over ten different labels, feature major jazz voices of the past and present: John Abercrombie, Ralph Alessi, Joey Baron, Mike Brecker, Randy Brecker, Dennis Chambers, Mark Ferber, Billy Hart, Dave Liebman, Victor Lewis, Joe Lovano, Greg Osby, Gary Peacock, Bill Stewart, Robin Verheyen, Ken Wheeler, and others.
But if you were thinking of Copland as an older musician who has slowed down, stopped developing, and simply resting on his laurels---you couldn’t be more wrong. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” says saxophonist Robin Verheyen. “He’s an inspiration, coming up with new ideas and new sounds all the time. It’s the kind of energy and growth you’d expect from someone in the prime of their creative life. And he’s not only a major voice with such a distinctive sound and approach---you won’t find a better accompanist anywhere.” After years of recording for many of the world’s finest labels (Challenge, ECM, Hatology, Nagel-Heyer, Pirouet, Savoy, Sketch, Soul Note, etc.), Copland took the plunge in 2016 and started his own label, innerVoice Jazz.
Decades of concerts in dozens of countries have cemented Copland’s status as a unique voice on his instrument. Here's some critical commentary from around the world:
“Copland is a genius...nobody has consistently worked with such finesse and success, with such a deft subtlety of touch and harmonic depth, and created such stunning beauty." ---Dan McClenaghan, senior editor, allaboutjazz.com (USA) / "Editor's pick" --Down Beat (USA) / "CHOC" (highest rating, including his last three releases) --Jazz Magazine (France) / "5 stars" --Rondo (Germany) and Neue Zuricher Zeitung (Switzerland) / "CD of the month" -- Stereoplay (Germany) / "Without a doubt, one of the best quartet records of recent times." ---Philippe Vincent, Jazz Magazine (France) / "Copland est un des meilleurs pianistes dans l'histoire du jazz, le plus grand poete du piano depuis Bill Evans. On ne saurait mieux dire." ---Serge Truffaut, Le Devoir (Quebec) / "#1 Acoustic pianist of the year, 2020...the King of harmony." ---Arnaldo de Souteiro, JazzStation (Brazil) / “ Marc Copland is the master magician….an argument for his surpassing (Bill) Evans could be made.” ---Dan McCenaghan, allaboutjazz.com
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, John Hébert has become one of the busiest bassists on the scene in New York city, and has toured worldwide as a member of many top jazz groups. His credits include (among others) Andrew Hill, Lee Konitz, Paul Bley, John Abercrombie, Paul Bley, Uiri Caine, Marc Copland, Fred Hersch, Mary Halvorson, David Liebman, Paul Motian, Greg Osby, Maria Schneider, Bill Stewart, and Toots Thielemans. Copland, whose career includes long and close collaborations with legendary bassists Gary Peacock and Drew Gress, cites Hebert not only as a top-level bassist, but as a somewhat unique talent. “John has a level of intuition, a kind of radar and ability to change direction on a dime, that is pretty unique in today’s jazz world.”
Hebert’s talent as a bassist and bandleader has been recognized many times by Down Beat magazine, perhaps the most prestigious jazz periodical in the world. His debut recording Byzantine Monkey received 4 stars from Down Beat, which praised “a sonic vision that’s all his own”. A subsequent release, Rambling Confessions, went one better, receiving 4.5 stars. John was also named in Downbeat’s Critics’ Poll as a “Rising Star Acoustic Bassist” in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010---culminating in his winning the poll in 2011.
Born In Denver, Colorado, and the son of a Jazz Educator, drummer Colin Stranahan has always been surrounded by music. By his teenage years he was already actively working on the local Denver scene, and was a winner in the 2012 Thelonious Monk Drum Competition. Now living in Brooklyn, New York, Colin is among the most sought-after drummers in the world, working with such artists as Terence Blanchard, Marc Copland, Herbie Hancock, Kevin Hays, Fred Hersch, Jonathan Kreisberg, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Wayne Shorter.. A bandleader as well, he has recorded three albums with his Stranahan/Zaleski/Rosato trio. Colin currently holds teaching positions at the Aarhus Royal Academy of Music and London’s Royal Academy of Music, and has been a faculty member of the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony and The Fara Sabina Summer Jazz school in Italy.