Jazz Workshop at Fort Langley Jazz and Arts Festival:

Bill Sample and Darlene Cooper will be sharing their approach to working together as a professional musical team.  They will discuss how their partnership relies on trust, respect with a bit of ‘dive and float’ thrown in.  Focusing on the relationship between vocalist and accompanist they will talk about how to create magnetic story telling through the music and arrangements with an end goal of giving the listener a beautiful experience.

Bill has a wealth of experience as a music director, keyboard player, producer, composer/arranger.  He was the musical director for David Foster, opened for Oscar Peterson and worked with Ray Charles and many other great musicians.  Darlene is seasoned singer, vocal conductor, composer/arranger and music educator.  She was the choral conductor plus composed and arranged for the Marcus Mosely Chorale and she designed and directed the Institute of Music Ministry programs.  Together, Bill and Darlene are a dynamic team. 

Cooper and Sample’s close attentive listening and interactions result in a beautiful, sensitive jazz release recorded and produced to high standards. They make it all sound so easy!

-        Tiina Kiik (The Whole Note)

 There is always something fascinating about meeting couples that are a good match - in art and love. I believe that singer Darlene Cooper and pianist Bill Sample are such a couple / match…the interplay the two perform and demonstrate is so pronouncedly sensual, beautiful and intimate.

-        Ivan Rod (Danish Journalist and Music Critic)

 Pure emotion throughout, they bring all the tools they need to give you a full on listening experience that sizzles deceptively – Chris Spector (Midwest Records)

 a listener delights in Cooper’s beautiful vocals and Sample’s empathic support…The overall level of the duo’s performances is simply top-notch, resulting in a terrific vocal jazz recording.

-        Ron Weinstock (Jazz and Blues Report)