Keith Copeland

Keith Copeland (born in New York City on April 18, 1946, died in Germany on February 14, 2015) was a jazz drummer and music educator.
Career
His father, Ray Copeland, was a jazz trumpeter, and he learned by watching him, but he decided to play drums after studying Art Blakey's records with The Jazz Messengers.
In his teens he played with Barry Harris. He later worked with the Heath Brothers, but Percy Heath disliked his style, leading to arguments and to Copeland quitting.
During his musical career, Copeland played with Sam Jones, Billy Taylor, Johnny Griffin, Stevie Wonder, Rory Stuart, George Russell, and Hank Jones. He also led his own European-based groups, including one with Irish bassist Ronan Guilfoyle.
Copeland taught at The New School University in New York City, Rutgers, and Berklee College of Music before moving to Germany in 1992 and teaching in the Hochschule system. His students include Terri Lyne Carrington, Darren Beckett and Adam Cruz.
Discography
As leader
On Target (Jazz Mania, 1993)
The Irish Connection (SteepleChase, 1996)
Round Trip (SteepleChase, 1997)
Postcard from Vancouver (Jazz Focus, 1998)
As sideman
With Howard Alden
Misterioso (Concord Jazz, 1991)
With Ben Besiakov
You Stepped Out of a Dream (SteepleChase, 1990)
With Paul Bley
BeBopBeBopBeBopBeBop (SteepleChase, 1990)
With Joshua Breakstone
Echoes (Contemporary, 1987)
Evening Star (Contemporary, 1988)
Sittin' on the Thing with Ming (Capri, 1993)
Remembering Grant Green (Evidence, 1993)
The Music of Bud Powell (Double Time, 2000)
Tomorrow's Hours (Capri, 2002)
With Charles Brown
All My Life (Bullseye Blues, 1990)
With Chris Conner
As Time Goes by (Enja, 1992)
With Stanley Cowell
Sienna (SteepleChase, 1989)
Departure #2 (SteepleChase, 1990)
Hear Me One (SteepleChase, 1996)
With Meredith d'Ambrosio
The Cove (Sunnyside, 1988)
Love Is Not a Game (Sunnyside, 1991)
With John Dankworth
Echoes of Harlem (Compendia, 1988)
With Stanton Davis
Brighter Days (Outrageous Records Incorporated, 1977)
With Frank Foster and the SDR Big Band
A Fresh Taste of the Blues (Intercord, 1996)
With Hugh Frasier/Jean Toussaint Quartet
Back to Back (Jazz Focus, 1998)
With David Gazarov
Autumnal Giant Steps (Episode Records, 1994)
With Al Grey
Christmas Stockin' Stuffer (Capri, 1992)
With Johnny Griffin
Return of the Griffin (Galaxy, 1978)
With Johnny Hartman
Once in Every Life (Bee Hive, 1980)
With the Heath Brothers
In Motion (Columbia, 1979)
With Sam Jones
The Bassist! (Interplay, 1979)
With Mark Kirk
Lavender Mist (Jazz Mania, 1993) with Steve Gilmore
With Ann Malcolm
Incident'ly (Sound Hills Records, 1994)
With Susannah McCorkle
I'll Take Romance (Concord Jazz, 1992)
With Sandy McLeod
Conversations with Love (CGM, 2003)
With Jackie Paris
Nobody Else but Me (Audiophile, 1988)
With Bill Pierce
Complete William the Conqueror Sessions (Sunnyside, 1995)
With Mike Richmond
Dance for Andy (SteepleChase) (1989)
With Bob Rockwell
Shades of Blue (SteepleChase, 1996)
With Charlie Rouse
The Upper Manhattan Jazz Society (Enja, 1981 [1985]) with Benny Bailey
With George Russell
Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature (Soul Note, 1980)
So What (Blue Note, 1987)
With Perico Sambeat
Uptown Dance (EGT, 1992)
With Larry Schneider
Just Cole Porter (SteepleChase, 1991)
Blind Date (SteepleChase, 1992)
Freedom Jazz Dance (Steeplechase, 1996)
With Jurgen Seefelder
Naide (Westwind Records, 1996)
With Louis Smith
Ballads for Lulu (SteepleChase, 1990)
Once in a While (SteepleChase, 2000)
With Rory Stuart
Hurricane (Sunnyside, 1986)
With Billy Taylor
Where've You Been? (Concord Jazz, 1981)
With Chris Walden
Ticino (ACT, 1996)
With Chris White
The Chris White Project (Muse, 1992)
With Martin Wind
Gone with the Wind (September, 1993) with Bill Mays
Tender Waves (A Records, 1995)
References
External links
Keith Copeland website - archived 27 September 2022
1946 births
2015 deaths
American jazz drummers
Academic staff of the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln
Queens College, City University of New York faculty
Rutgers University faculty
The New School faculty
Jazz musicians from New York (state)