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www.wildblueherons.com

https://wildblueherons.bandcamp.com/

Wild Blue Herons (WBH) are the magnetic husband-and-wife duo of Bill Sample (piano/keys) and Darlene Cooper (vocals). They embrace a broad sound from groove oriented jazz with a pop/gospel twist (reminiscent of Joe Sample and Lalah Hathaway) to intimate ballads by the great ladies of jazz. In 2024, they expanded the band to include horns, namely, tenor sax and trombone to create a bit more funk/soul in the spirit of the Jazz Crusaders.

Bill’s emotional, playful and meticulous accompaniment added to Darlene’s “rich stunning vocals, where every note is delivered flawlessly” (Tom Haugen, Take Effect ) create a warm and mesmerizing synergy.

Sharing a particular passion for song stylist, Nancy Wilson, they tug on your heart strings through their beautiful spin and storytelling.

“Pure emotion… a full on listening experience that sizzles deceptively” (Chris Spector, Midwest Record)

This husband and wife team have a deep history in music:  Bill has been an in-demand sideman for over 40 years, working as musical director and keyboard player for the legendary David Foster, while Darlene has built a reputation not just as an engaging jazz/soul/gospel singer, but an educator, choral conductor and composer/arranger, too.  

Bill and Darlene met through the Vancouver-based Marcus Mosely Chorale (MMC) working together as musical (Bill) and choral (Darlene) directors. Bill and Darlene found an instant connection through a shared love of theory, complex chords and funky rhythms and soon began to co-arrange and co-write many of the choir’s tunes. Often, during planning meetings, Bill and Darlene would find their way to a piano or even grab a napkin and start writing a song idea. 

Mirroring their personal life, their co-working showcases a kinship and spark as they write from their own life experiences of love and loss but also a mutual concern for equality, love and compassion around the globe. (eg. Stop the Madness, It’s All About Love, If You Fall)

Formed in 2017, Wild Blue Herons perform as a duo or as a full band complete with horns at times and have played in numerous festivals (the Filberg Festival, Ft. Langley Jazz and Arts Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival) as well as various Jazz Clubs (Frankies Jazz Club - Vancouver; Hermann’s Jazz Club - Victoria, Jazz Bistro - Toronto, Vernon Jazz club, to name a few).

The group has been featured with such artists as Eric Bibb, Marcus Mosely and the Marcus Mosely Chorale, Shari Ulrich, Jane Mortifee and debuted their show, “The Great Ladies of Jazz”, at the historic Columbia Theatre in New Westminster, BC, in 2019.  

In 2017, they released their first album, “On the Outside”, which they feel describes themselves -  “in music and life, the ‘outside’ is where you are when you are different. Good things can happen there”. The album, featuring a full band with horns, paid homage to their wide ranging music influences with all original songs but one.

Their latest musical adventure (released November 2021) is an intimate and personal collection of jazz standards - “You & I”, weaving their own love story into the fabric of this album. Recorded in their home studio during the 2020/21 lockdown, the album displays two musicians with both skill and sensitivity; Bill’s mastery as an accompanist shines through whilst Darlene’s classy phrasing tells the stories. This duo album was released in CD and Vinyl and the cover features the artwork of Canadian artist, Joe Average. The art piece is appropriately titled “Unconditional Love” which is their mantra for life.   

Bill and Darlene are adding a new role as music contributors – that of, music promoters/producers. As of September 2022, they started producing an exciting new music series at the 200 seat Inlet Theatre in Port Moody, BC as well as a series of house concerts at “The Herons Nest”.

Facilitating live music to their area is important to them as “it brings joy and vibrancy to the soul of the community. Music brings us together and helps us to focus on what unites us a humans … we need more of this in these times of division throughout the world.” 

Wild Blue Herons with Horns

Wild Blue Herons (WBH) are the magnetic husband-and-wife duo of Bill Sample (piano/keys) and Darlene Cooper (vocals). They embrace a broad sound from groove oriented jazz with a pop/gospel twist (reminiscent of Joe Sample and the Crusaders) to intimate ballads by the great ladies of jazz, in particular Nancy Wilson.

This husband and wife team have a deep history in music:  Bill has been an in-demand sideman for over 40 years, working as musical director and keyboard player for the legendary David Foster, while Darlene has built a reputation not just as an engaging jazz/soul/gospel singer, but an educator, choral conductor and composer/arranger, too.  

WBH has added horns to their lineup, namely Tom Keenlyside on tenor sax and Jim Hopson on trombone. They will be playing tunes by the Jazz Crusaders, the great Dr. Music, plus more funky versions of their originals. Rounding out the band will be Miles Foxx Hill on bass and Randall Stoll on drums. Collectively, this team of musicians has played with everyone from Ray Charles to Celine Dion.

Formed in 2017, Wild Blue Herons have played in numerous festivals (the Filberg Festival, Ft. Langley Jazz and Arts Festival , Vancouver Folk Festival) as well as various Jazz Clubs (Frankies Jazz Club - Vancouver; Hermann’s Jazz Club - Victoria, Jazz Bistro - Toronto, The Jazz Room – Waterloo, Vernon Jazz club, to name a few). 

They have released two albums, On The Outside, a funky collection of tunes featuring horns and full production, and You and I, an intimate assemblage of select standards, recorded in their home studio during the 2020/21 lockdown.

“Pure emotion… a full on listening experience that sizzles deceptively” (Chris Spector, Midwest Record)

“the interplay the two perform and demonstrate is so pronouncedly sensual, beautiful and intimate.” – Ivan Rod, Danish Music Critic

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 Jan/Feb 2022

“Cooper and Sample have produced a winner with You & I”

–Joe Lang, New Jersey Jazz

“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 Jan/Feb 2022

“the interplay the two perform and demonstrate is so pronouncedly sensual, beautiful and intimate.”
–Ivan Rod, Danish Music Critic

"Beautiful recording. That's what music does to a couple guided with love and passion in their career. Pleasure to listen to"
–Michel Dupuis - Son et Image - Montreal, QC

"Great music...one of my 2021 favourites. We need this music."
–Luis Cubells - 99,9% Jazz - Valencia, Spain 

"Classy Album"
–Tony Hillier - Planet Jazz - Cairns, Australia

“I can hear some of these ballads teamed up with Shirley Horn, Billie Holliday, and others as we take a break to feel emotions”
–Linda Yohn – WRCJ – Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA

“It’s so great to not only witness Bill and Darlene find each other, but also to watch them find a common voice through music. I’ve followed them through their growing body of work and have been very impressed with the high bar of musicianship and musical taste both when they have recorded with an amazing world class band (On the Outside recording), but also as a duo. You & I is one of my favourite songs by my all-time favourite artist Stevie Wonder, and is such an appropriate title and song. Great work. Keep it up!” 
–Dane Deviller, songwriter and producer

DeViller has written and produced songs for artists such as Kelly Rowland, Jessica Simpson, 98 Degrees, LFO, and Amy Grant, selling more than 45 million records worldwide.

"I was just listening to this album.  It’s lovely.  I think being a good accompanist is a difficult thing to do.  Bill Sample makes it so simply seamless.  The vocals, Darlene Cooper are full and ringing.  She has beautiful enunciation…” (Dec 2nd, 2021)
–CFBX 92.5 FM - Jazz on the Rocks  – host Shelley Gummeson – Kamloops BC

The Whole Note – You & I CD review by Tiina Kiik || view

Michael Doherty – You & I CD review || view

Take Effect – You & I CD review || view

Rhythm Changes – You & I CD review by Will Chernoff || view

Midwest Records – You & I CD review by Chris Spector || view

Citizen Jazz – You & I CD review by Gilles Gaujarengues || view

New Jersey Jazz Society // January 2022 edition – You & I CD review by Joe Lang || view

Ivan Rod – Danish Journalist & Music Critic – You & I CD review || view

Rhythm Changes Podcast with host Will Chernoff – You & I, life, memories and more || listen

Nerd Mountain Podcast with host Christy Bennett – Darlene talking about Eleanor Collins (Canada’s first lady of Jazz) || listen

Jazz and Blues Report // Issue #400 Jan/Feb 2022 – You & I CD review by Ron Weinstock

The Vancouver-based duo Wild Blue Herons are long-time collaborators turned husband-and-wife, pianist Bill Sample and vocalist Darlene Cooper. “You & I” is a collection of standards inspired by the great women of jazz. Sample has a 50 years career as an in-demand sideman and working as the musical director & keyboardist for the legendary David Foster. Cooper has a reputation as a go-to jazz singer, educator, choral conductor, and session musician. While they have worked in various settings, the present album finds the pair intimately interpreting a number of standards and two originals.

From the opening moments of “Wish I Never Met You,” a listener delights in Cooper’s beautiful vocals and Sample’s empathic support. This number is one of several songs associated with Nancy Wilson that Cooper sings here. Cooper’s phrasing and clear diction, pitch, dynamic and emotional range in her nuanced delivery of the songs are matched by her husband’s understated accompaniments. This is heard in the reflective handling of “The Nearness of You.” Sample adds organ to the piano accompaniment of Cooper’s robust singing “It Had To Be You .”

Other delights include an interpretation of the Stevie Wonder song that provides the album with its title, the original “Don’t Know How To Love You” that sounds like a song from a half-century ago, and a wonderful reading of the Buddy Johnson-penned ballad, “Save Your Love For Me.” A noteworthy track is the sterling rendition of “Here’s To Life,” based on Johnny Mandel’s arrangement, as sung by Shirley Horn. The overall level of the duo’s performances is simply top-notch, resulting in a terrific vocal jazz recording.