Koplant No

Koplant No is a forward-thinking ensemble that incorporates elements of jazz, electronic music, and progressive rock. Their influences include Radiohead, Telefon Tel Aviv, Beck, J Dilla, Garbage Factory and Happy Apple. Featuring Brian Lewis Smith on trumpet, keys, and laptop, Drew Morton on basses and synths, Rob Baner on drums and samples, and Joel Vanderheyden on saxophone and vocals, the band has been developing it's unique sound throughout the midwest. Joel Vanderheyden's debut album on the Mize record label, “Complete Life”, features Koplant No and was recently chosen as CD of the Month for August 2009 on Jazz 88.3 KCCK

Elker by Glenn Astarita

”I like the way they manage to include electronics in there without it being overly dramatic. They manage to use it as good coloration.” - Larry Englund, host of “Rhythm and Grooves” on 90.3 KFAI Minneapolis

“The music is so beautiful for me,” she said. “The kind of jazz [the members] play is kind of like jazz for the year 2010. It’s very progressive. They’re using a lot of the technology that’s available to them, and I think that’s really cool.” - Lisa Stark, Jazz 88.3 KCCK Cedar Rapids, IA

“Koplant No is the audio equivalent of a film noir. If I were a filmmaker, creating a science fiction detective movie (think Blade Runner), this album would be a great soundtrack