Hamid Cooper

Biography
Press

Born Hamid Mottaghinejad in 1959 in Tehran, Iran, Hamid discovered a love for Jazz at an early age by listening to his father’s collection of Afro-Cuban inspired Jazz records. As a teen, Hamid was taught to play the drums (Persian and Congas) by his father, an accomplished percussionist. In his early twenties he moved to Denmark, Scandinavia where he continued exploration of the arts. A gifted artist, Hamid’s insightful paintings, sold in prominent galleries throughout Denmark. He also attended the Occupational University Copenhagen and studied Kinesiology and Physical Therapy.

In 1998 Hamid relocated to the U.S. to pursue a life-long dream of playing in a live Jazz band. In addition to landing several engagements at high-profile events and festivals, he also taught percussion at the Music & Art World Academy in Los Angeles. Soon after moving to the U.S., he settled in southern California, where he enjoys sharing his love for music and the arts. He was often called “Mr. Cooper” by fellow musicians because of his love and admiration for the legendary actor, Gary Cooper. And thus, "Hamid Cooper" was born.

In 2007 he formed Hamid Cooper Latin Jazz (HCLJ). Based in Southern California, the 5-7 member band is comprised of talented international musicians playing a range of instruments from wind to percussion. A typical performance includes: Leader and percussionist, Cooper on congas, etc.; jazzer Artis Ford on keyboards; Doug White on bass; Bill Mason on trumpet; Marco Perez on timbales; Bill James on saxophone & flute; and on occasion, an additional wind player. The band plays live dates in the Southern California region for listening and dancing. Jazz greats, the likes of Arturo Sandoval and Freddie Ravel, have also joined HCLJ on stage for Jam sessions.

Tags

Hamid Cooper Congas

" We received lots of wonderful comments about the band's performance. Hamid Cooper's Band delivered the perfect live show for our annual Jazz on the Hilltop event!"

James A. Smith Postmaster Scholarship Foundation, Inc.

"When I sat down to listen to Hamid Cooper's latest album The Spirit Filled Latin Jazz, I was completely blindsided by its melodic infusion of Africa, Cuba, traditional Jazz and how Cooper's own Middle Eastern heritage adds a distinct flavor to the sound. ...the percussion Cooper plays on "Blue Bossa" hypnotizes you...this is vacation music, an aural excursion above the concrete jungles that confine many of us."