As a young saxophonist in the early 1970s, Marc Copland experimented with modern and electric harmonies but grew dissatisfied with his instrument. He quit the sax and, a decade later, re-emerged as a jazz pianist, acclaimed for his dexterous lyricism.
On Friday, Dec. 6, Copland will join renowned bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Joey Baron for a performance in Washington University in St. Louis’ 560 Music Center.
Tickets for the show, presented by Jazz at Holmes and the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences, are $25, $15 for seniors, WUSTL faculty and staff, and $5 for students. Tickets are available at the Edison Theatre Box Office, (314) 935-6543, and at the door.
The 560 Music Center is located in University City, at 560 Trinity Ave. For more information, contact Sue Taylor at staylor@wustl.edu or (314) 862-0874; or follow Jazz at Holmes on Facebook.
Diverse vocabularies
“It’s difficult to describe any music, because words don’t tell the whole story — they can’t,” Copland said. “But I will say this: I’ve played in a lot of trios over the years, and the interplay with this particular group is kind of off the charts.”
William Lenihan, director of jazz performance in Arts & Sciences, said that Copland is “among the most advanced harmonists on the international jazz scene, drawing from the post-Evans and Hancock traditions as well as from the early European modernists.
“He is as much at home with the diverse vocabularies of Debussy, Bartok and Schoenberg,” Lenihan said.
Lenihan, a respected jazz guitarist, met Copland years ago when his trio opened for the John Scofield band, which included Copland as keyboardist.
Peacock, a member of Keith Jarrett’s long-running “standards” trio — as well as a former teacher of Lenihan’s — has recorded several albums with Copland, including Insight (2009), What it Says (2004) and New York Recordings Vol. 1 (2006) and Vol. 2 (2007).
“Gary really has redefined the role of the piano trio bassist,” Lenihan said. “A truly original voice, his sense of interplay — harmonically with Copland and rhythmically with Baron — gives way to a depth of swing that could only have come about in a player who is versed enough to play with the likes of Albert Ayler, Bill Evans and Jarrett.”
Baron, perhaps best known for his work with Stan Getz and Steve Kuhn, has performed with artists ranging from David Bowie and Tony Bennett to Michael Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Pepper and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
“Joey Baron is of the most creative and versatile musicians in all of improvised music,” Lenihan said, “a real professional and driven artist who has played the gamut of American music.”
Jazz at Holmes
Sponsors of Jazz at Holmes include: the College of Arts & Sciences; Student Union; Congress of the South 40; the Department of Music; University College and Summer School; Campus Life; Danforth University Center and Event Management; the Community Service Office; the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership; Greek Life Office; and the Office of Residential Life.