THE CO-OP
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...the aggregate known as "The CO-OP" began as an "ad-hoc" backing band for the Swedish singer-songwriter Malin Johansson, A/KA Blue Utopia. Back in 2007 the Brown Brothers, which I think is a loose association of New York City area musicians and cultural mavens wanted to "cross-pollinate" jazz and pop musicians, so they called upon trombonist and band leader Wycliffe Gordon to lead a group backing the mysterious Johansson. The equally mysterious Brown Brothers had noted Gordon's various gigs around New York, including one with his quartet at The Village Vanguard back in 2006. The Brothers completed the group with bassist/composer Derrick Hodge, trumpeter/flugelhorn player and composer Jeremy Pelt, drummer/composer Kendrick Scott and keyboardist (vibes, marimba, piano, glockenspiel) Warren Wolf. In other words a group of highly accomplished musicians, all of whom were composers/bandleaders.The liner notes don't discuss the outcome of the Blue Utopia gig, or if there even was one, but read more...