Marc Copland quartet
Origin: USA - Belgique
The American pianist in a quartet, with the remarkable Belgian saxophonist Robin Verheyen.
Line-up
Marc Copland (piano), Robin Verheyen (saxophone), Stéphane Kerecki (double bass), Fabrice Moreau (drums)
About us
Marc Copland is a musical treasure. Over the past decade, he has been a mainstay of guitarist John Abercrombie's bands and legendary bassist Gary Peacock's groups. It must be said that throughout his career, punctuated by nearly 40 albums, he has carved out a solid reputation for himself. Yet the pianist and composer continues to develop new ideas and new sounds.
Today, he is accompanied by a formidable French rhythm section consisting of double bassist Stéphane Kerecki and drummer Fabrice Moreau. They are joined by the remarkable Belgian saxophonist Robin Verheyen for the quartet line-up.
The Marc Copland Quartet's first album was met with unanimous enthusiasm when it was released in 2022: ‘Someday, one of the best quartet recordings of recent years.’ (Philippe Vincent, Jazz Magazine) "If anyone asks you what jazz is, just say 'it's Someday and the Marc Copland Quartet! ‘ —Francesco Cataldo Verrina, DoppioJazz.it, Italy ’The music is magical in the hands of this group, and Marc Copland is the master magician." —Dan McClenaghan, allaboutjazz.com, United States.
With Dreaming, how could the band possibly surpass their previous creation? ‘We didn't really change our approach, because Someday represented who we are,’ explains Copland. "We listen to each other, we give each other space, and the music gives us space, and we feel where the music wants to take us before we launch into it. That said, we push the harmonic boundaries, especially in Drew Gress's two challenging pieces; adding a free ballad by Robin Verheyen; adding layered rhythms, as in All That's Left; deepening the intensity of the interaction."
Marc Copland is a pianist and composer whose output as a leader is staggering: more than 40 critically acclaimed CDs, in solos, duos, trios, quartets and quintets. The albums, recorded for more than ten different labels, feature major voices in jazz 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.
Copland continues to evolve: ‘I've never seen anything like it,’ says saxophonist Robin Verheyen. "He's an inspiration, constantly coming up with new ideas and new sounds. It's the kind of energy and growth you'd expect from someone in the prime of their creative life. And he's not just a major voice with such a distinctive sound and approach — you won't find a better accompanist.
After years of recording for many of the world's most prestigious labels (Challenge, ECM, Hatology, Nagel-Heyer, Pirouet, Savoy, Sketch, Soul Note, etc.), Copland took the plunge in 2016 and launched his own label. The pianist's foray into the record industry has grown every year, bucking the general trend of declining CD sales.
His latest album, John (illusions / mirage), received ‘Editor's Pick’ from Down Beat magazine, CHOC from Jazz Magazine (France), ‘CD of the Month’ from Stereoplay (Germany) and five stars from Rondo (Germany) and Neu Zuricher Zeitung (Switzerland). Dan McClenaghan of allaboutjazz.com put it succinctly: ‘Copland is a genius... he creates the most beautiful sounds.’ The respected blog jazzstation awarded him the prize for ‘#1 Acoustic Pianist of the Year.’
Gallery
