Artist description The music I write is strongly influenced by the music of Brazil, West Africa, and Cuba. I grew up in a rural area of the Midwest so that vibe is a major part of the mix as well. As far as making a living as a musician goes, that requires that I be pretty versitile. I spend a lot of time studying jazz and learning tunes from that genre; lately I've also been taking R&B a lot more seriously. On top of all that I've recently started a group with the great Guinean drummer Fara Tolno, so I'm having shed on that stuff as well. On that note, if you are in Boulder on the 11th of September (I know) Fara and I will be doing a show at the Boulder Theater. The group is called "Fenye" and it's a drivin' groovin' African dance machine. Email me and I'll put you on my list for other gigs.

Music Style World/Folk: World Fusion

Musical Influences Milton Nascimento, Rafael Rabello, Bach, Toninho Horta

Similar Artists Pat Metheny, Gilberto Gil, Tom Jobim, Joao Bosco, Joyce.

Artist History I've been a professional musician for the last 10 years - no day job or teaching, just playing. I've done almost every style of music at one time or another; particularly memorable is playing with a great Brazilian-Jazz group in Spain while I lived there for three years. I've done quite a lot of studio work in the Colorado area, and I've even done some gigs with local jam-bands. As far as paying the bills, I play with a slamming wedding band, I do jazz gigs for martini-swilling, cigar-smoking, uh, people in downtown Denver. My new CD "El Oeste" has arrived on my doorstep, so that has been occupying my attention lately. I've included the tile cut here - check out Dave Easley playing the hell out of the steele guitar on the outro. I plan to start booking my own gigs instead of being a sideman. I will miss this - I've not booked myself in years, and it's been great - no worries or hassles and I make about as much as the leader. But the new CD has to promoted and that's the way it's done.

Group Members Bill Kopper-guitars, Eduardo Barbosa-bass, Steve Ivey-drums, Claudio Slon-drums, Dave Crowe-acoustic bass, Helen Payne-vocals, Eric Hansen-trumpet, Rob Lowe-keys. On "El Oeste", I have: Bijou Barbosa on bass, Marc Dalio on drums, Pete Sommer on saxophones, Dave Easley on steele guitar, Erik Duetch on piano, and me on guitar.

Instruments classical and electric guitar, acoustic and electric bass, drums, keys, trumpet

Albums Samba De Chueca, El Oeste

Press Reviews There's an idea! Does anyone want to contribute?

Additional Info Entire 12-song Samba De Chueca CD available, plus entire 9-song El Oeste CD available. Contact Bill for information.

Location Boulder, CO - USA

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