Jazz AWE with Darlene Cooper Trio
Again this year, the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival will close out with a Jazz AWE (Alternative Worship Experience) at our St. Andrew's Chapel in Fort Langley (9025 Glover Road). Jazz AWE gives a musical twist to the Sunday church experience. Live jazz music is woven into readings, reflection and conversations.
This event, featuring Darlene Cooper Trio, will be hosted by Rev. Sophia Ducey.
Entrance By Donation. Registration required.
Click HERE to register!
Featured Artists:
Darlene Cooper (formerly Ketchum)
started singing solos in church at the age of three and later found her musical passion in the soul, gospel, funk, and jazz music of the 1970’s. The vocal freedom of soul, combined with the rich chords and funky laid-back groove, continues to inspire her songs today. For Darlene, music is about connection, and she uses her soulful and sultry voice to take her listener on an emotional journey through the song. In addition to being an experienced singer, Darlene is a songwriter, arranger, choral and musical director, keyboard accompanist and educator.
Website: https://www.darlenecoopermusic.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5OyIuuxE8ipElo-Q3jYmdQ
Bill Sample
is a composer, producer, arranger and pianist. Bill’s career has spanned four decades and his reputation is unsurpassed. Bill is a ‘first call’ musician and composer in Vancouver. As a jazz pianist, Bill opened for Oscar Peterson and Monty Alexander. He performed with Ray Charles, Mel Torme, Robben Ford, Art Pepper, Dee Daniels and Fraser MacPherson. As musical director for David Foster for 9 years, he performed with Celine Dion, Brian Adams, Peter Cetera, and Kenny Loggins, to name a few. He was music director for the Variety Club telethon from 1985 to 1995.
In 2003, Bill was inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame. In 2008, he played on the Grammy winning soundtrack Ratatouille. In 2010, he received both a Lifetime Achievement Award and Most Influential Jazz Musician from the Royal Canadian Music Project, and his band Sample Stearns Band (from the 70’s) received the Most Influential Group Award. In 2013, Bill was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2014, he was awarded (along with Bob Sarti) an Ovation Award for The Raymur Mothers, a musical.
In 2015, Bill released an album of original instrumental jazz compositions for trio titled, Small. In 2017, he and co-writer, Darlene Cooper released their album On the Outside under the name of Wild Blue Herons. In December of 2020, he released a solo piano Christmas album entitled We Three Kings. Wild Blue Herons produced their 2nd album in 2021 as a duo – an intimate recording of standards called You & I. In Fall 2025 Wild Blue Herons (with horns) will be releasing their 3rd album.
Bill has a degree in Music Composition from the University of Victoria and studied piano and arranging at Berklee College, Boston.
www.billsamplemusic.com
www.wildblueherons.com
contact Bill @ bill.sample67@icloud.com
Steve Hilliam
is from a small town Bramalea, Ontario (just outside of Toronto) Steve has lent his intense and lyrical saxophone to some of the brightest lights in the music industry such as Otis Rush, Long John Baldry, Gino Vanelli and Michael Kaeshammer. His artful arranging brought him to Warner recording artist Colin James “Little Big Band”. Steve has been a mainstay of various incarnations of the Colin James Band for the last 25 years. Touring all over North America, Europe and Asia, Steve has acquired the status as one of the most sought-after players on the West Coast both live and in the studio.