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. You can currently hear tracks from the new album in regular rotation on Eastern Iowa's jazz radio station. Chris Cooke of KIOS 91.5FM in Omaha says the album is “highly recommended, one of the best jazz rock records to be released in years!” The highly anticipated Koplant No debut album is available now!
September 07, 2017
Jazz this week: Alton Jazz and Wine Festival, Koplant No, a Horace...
September 16, 2016
Jazz this week: "Music at the Intersection," Tammy McCann, Old Webster...
March 26, 2015
Jazz this week: Matthew Shipp & Michael Bisio, Shades of Jade, T....
February 29, 2012
Jazz This Week: Freddy Cole, Claudia Quintet with Theo Bleckmann,...
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
Read more
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. The playing is superb and they are telling stories outside of the box. - Chuck Bolger, host of Jazz...Or Something Like It show on 91.7 FM WMUH Allentown, Pennsylvania.
A young band of Midwest monsters - Andrea Canter of the Jazz Police
Getting [the students] to play with Koplant No was one of the highlights of my time here [at Iowa City High School]. - Mike Moehlmann, Former Director of Jazz Bands at Iowa City High School
Show less
Primary Instrument
Band/orchestra
Willing to teach
Intermediate to advanced