Critics, radio and record buyers already aboard the keyboardists jazz-funk train
Upper Marlboro, MD: People are feeling the new album from keyboardist Patrick Cooper, who today released The Way It Used To Be, a modern collection of vintage jazz-funk and melodic R&B grooves that he wrote and produced to pay homage to the halcyon days of the 1970s when free-form jazz mingled with R&B, soul and funk. Enthusiastic reviews, radio play and pre-release record sales are positive indicators that Coopers mission to capture the best hallmark qualities of music from back in the day is Struttn on the path to success.
The first single serviced to radio from The Way It Used To Be, which was released on Coopers Depth In Sound record label and distributed by Allegro Distribution, Struttn is a feel-good, shake your rump jazz-funk tune prancing with pride to an irresistible piano cadence. The track has been collecting airplay at stations across the nation and was amongst the most added singles the past two weeks according to Billboards BDSradio.
The Way It Used To Be has received only favorable reviews from music critics while demand for the album, Coopers sophomore offering, has placed the CD in the top 100 at CD Universe ahead of todays official release date.
A regular performer on the Washington, DC-Baltimore area club scene, Cooper recently played a pair of jam-packed album release gigs to help launch The Way It Used To Be. Although he can be found on stage in the vicinity virtually every week, he is determined to make a big splash at his September 7th show at Blues Alley, reputed as DCs finest jazz supper club.
Below are excerpts from a handful of early album reviews:
All Music: The real focuses in the music remain with the headliner, first because of the strength of his compositions. Cooper has come up with strong melodies for his tunes, which often sound like songs that ought to have wordsThe second major mark of the lead artist, however, is his inventive acoustic piano soloing, which bobs in and out of the music. Whenever Cooper is spraying notes on his un-electrified keyboards (and even when he takes to a Rhodes on The Way It Used To Be), he provides the jazz content that was always a major element in the music of the 70s artists he reveres and evokes here.
Jazz Weekly: Keyboardist Patrick Cooper has no qualms about the danceable grooves on his disc, as he simply brings the infectious vibe from the church into the street. Songs like Struttn and Side Steppn fill up a disc that has more hooks than the Ali-Frazier fight, with [a] collection of sanctified soul getting you ready to put some Afro Sheen back in your hair. The team of David Dyson/b, Dwayne Thomas/g, Stanley Cooper/g, Phillip Martin/sax and Nehemiah Booker/voc make up just part of the team that rotates like the stage on Soul Train. Fun and funky!
Smooth & Soul: Patrick Cooper's The Way It Used To Be is a magic collection of songs. Not just a pure retrospective to jazz and funk of the past, but a modern variation of contemporary jazz made-to-measure for all music aficionados.
Sounds of Timeless Jazz: The Way It Used To Be is funky, jazzy and soulful and just in time for your smooth summer groove.
Smooth Vibes: Although achieving his goal of capturing the sound and spirit of music produced decades ago, Cooper has also used the project to show off his considerable skills as a performer, composer and producerhe has delivered a quality body of work that effortlessly builds a bridge between the present and what has gone before.
Smooth & Soul: The only thing to do when this CD ends is press play again and let the combination of the soulful, the groovy and the classy wash over you again. Patrick Cooper, in these eight original compositions, has taken the best of the 70s soul and funk vibe and brought it bang up to date with a punchy and purposeful production.
Upper Marlboro, MD: People are feeling the new album from keyboardist Patrick Cooper, who today released The Way It Used To Be, a modern collection of vintage jazz-funk and melodic R&B grooves that he wrote and produced to pay homage to the halcyon days of the 1970s when free-form jazz mingled with R&B, soul and funk. Enthusiastic reviews, radio play and pre-release record sales are positive indicators that Coopers mission to capture the best hallmark qualities of music from back in the day is Struttn on the path to success.
The first single serviced to radio from The Way It Used To Be, which was released on Coopers Depth In Sound record label and distributed by Allegro Distribution, Struttn is a feel-good, shake your rump jazz-funk tune prancing with pride to an irresistible piano cadence. The track has been collecting airplay at stations across the nation and was amongst the most added singles the past two weeks according to Billboards BDSradio.
The Way It Used To Be has received only favorable reviews from music critics while demand for the album, Coopers sophomore offering, has placed the CD in the top 100 at CD Universe ahead of todays official release date.
A regular performer on the Washington, DC-Baltimore area club scene, Cooper recently played a pair of jam-packed album release gigs to help launch The Way It Used To Be. Although he can be found on stage in the vicinity virtually every week, he is determined to make a big splash at his September 7th show at Blues Alley, reputed as DCs finest jazz supper club.
Below are excerpts from a handful of early album reviews:
All Music: The real focuses in the music remain with the headliner, first because of the strength of his compositions. Cooper has come up with strong melodies for his tunes, which often sound like songs that ought to have wordsThe second major mark of the lead artist, however, is his inventive acoustic piano soloing, which bobs in and out of the music. Whenever Cooper is spraying notes on his un-electrified keyboards (and even when he takes to a Rhodes on The Way It Used To Be), he provides the jazz content that was always a major element in the music of the 70s artists he reveres and evokes here.
Jazz Weekly: Keyboardist Patrick Cooper has no qualms about the danceable grooves on his disc, as he simply brings the infectious vibe from the church into the street. Songs like Struttn and Side Steppn fill up a disc that has more hooks than the Ali-Frazier fight, with [a] collection of sanctified soul getting you ready to put some Afro Sheen back in your hair. The team of David Dyson/b, Dwayne Thomas/g, Stanley Cooper/g, Phillip Martin/sax and Nehemiah Booker/voc make up just part of the team that rotates like the stage on Soul Train. Fun and funky!
Smooth & Soul: Patrick Cooper's The Way It Used To Be is a magic collection of songs. Not just a pure retrospective to jazz and funk of the past, but a modern variation of contemporary jazz made-to-measure for all music aficionados.
Sounds of Timeless Jazz: The Way It Used To Be is funky, jazzy and soulful and just in time for your smooth summer groove.
Smooth Vibes: Although achieving his goal of capturing the sound and spirit of music produced decades ago, Cooper has also used the project to show off his considerable skills as a performer, composer and producerhe has delivered a quality body of work that effortlessly builds a bridge between the present and what has gone before.
Smooth & Soul: The only thing to do when this CD ends is press play again and let the combination of the soulful, the groovy and the classy wash over you again. Patrick Cooper, in these eight original compositions, has taken the best of the 70s soul and funk vibe and brought it bang up to date with a punchy and purposeful production.
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