Dave Cooper — Garver Feed Mill Patio — Friday, September 24, 2021 — 7PM

By Michael Brenneis

Interview date: 09/08/2021

It’s hard to frame the Jazz or classical scene in Wisconsin or the Upper Midwest over the last 30 years without considering the contributions of Dave Cooper. He has been an Associate Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville for 15 years, and an essential member of more groups than I can possibly mention here. Dave’s latest chapter is propelled by his study of the modern improvisational techniques practiced by some of today’s most innovative improvisers, as evidenced by his writing for his group QUAD.

For those keeping score: the composer’s name that I couldn’t remember is Georg Friedrich Haas, and the saxophonist who explores microtonality that Dave didn’t name is Steve Lehman.