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.
" 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."
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" 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."
Al-Lateef Farmer
EURWeb
"Here's some intriguing and fresh music from an LA cat-
drummer/percussionist Hamid Cooper, who has put out two recent discs
(Pars; Latin Jazz Dream From Persia) that show the width and breath of
jazz/folk percussion... "Latin Jazz Dream is in the more conventional jazz
vein, with Cooper joining with a team of piano, bass, timbales and two
woodwinds for a mix of originals and jazz standards. Fresh material like "Sun
Shower" and "The Word" combine infectious rhythms with some smooth sax
work... Their take of standards are quite enticing; "Take Five" finally sounds
like the Middle Eastern song it was originally conceived as, while "Watermelon
Man" adds a bit of pomegranate to the flavor. A bit of extra cumin is added to
"Manteca" and "Mas Que Nada" creating a real feast for the ears. Check this
one out!"
George W. Harris
Jazzweekly.com
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