Jerome Douglas Cooper (December 14, 1946 – May 6, 2015) was an American free jazz musician. In addition to trap drums, Cooper played balafon, chirimia and various electronic instruments, and referred to himself as a "multi-dimensional drummer," meaning that his playing involved "layers of sounds and rhythms". AllMusic reviewer Ron Wynn called him "A sparkling drummer and percussionist... An excellent accompanist". Another Allmusic reviewer stated that "in the truest sense this drummer is a magician, adept at transformation and the creation of sacred space".
Career
Cooper studied with Oliver Coleman and Walter Dyett in the late 1950s and early 1960s, then studied at the American Conservatory of Music and Loop College. In 1968, he worked with Oscar Brown, Jr. and Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre in the U.S. but moved to Europe before the end of the decade, where he played with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Steve Lacy, Lou Bennett (with whom he visited Gambia and Senegal), the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Alan Silva, and Noah Howard. After returning to the U.S. in 1971, he joined the Revolutionary Ensemble alongside Leroy Jenkins and Sirone, where he remained for several years, and played piano, flute, and bugle in addition to drums. In the 1970s, he played with Sam Rivers, George Adams, Karl Berger, Andrew Hill, and Anthony Braxton. In the 1980s he worked with McIntyre again, as well as with Cecil Taylor.
Death Cooper died in Brooklyn on May 6, 2015, aged 68, from complications of multiple myeloma, according to his daughter, Levanah Cummins-Cooper.
Discography As leader or co-leader Recording dateAlbumLabelPersonnelRelease date1978Positions 3 6 9KharmaWith Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre and Frank Lowe19781978Root AssumptionsAnimaSolo percussion19821979For the PeopleHat HutWith Oliver Lake1980The Unpredictability of PredictabilityAbout TimeSolo percussion19791987Outer and InteractionsAbout TimeWith Joseph Jarman, Jason Hwang, William Parker, and Thurman Barker19881995–1998In Concert: From There to HearMutable MusicSolo percussion20012002Alone, Together, ApartMutable MusicWith Thomas Buckner20032007A Magical ApproachMutable MusicSolo percussion20102011As of NotILK MusicWith Kresten Osgood2020
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 sideman With Lester Bowie Fast Last! (Muse, 1974)
With Anthony Braxton New York, Fall 1974 (Arista, 1974)
With Ted Daniel Tapestry (Sun Records, 1977)
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 )
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)
References