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The self-described “multi-dimensional drummer” in solo concerts recorded at Roulette between 2000-07. Raised in Chicago, he made history in the 70s with the Revolutionary Ensemble (with bassist Sirone and Leroy Jenkins, violin). Over the years he worked with artists from Rahsaan Roland Kirk to Anthony Braxton and Cecil Taylor. Strongly influenced by travels to Gambia, Senegal, and Indonesia, Cooper (1946-2015) fashioned a personal style that fused West African, Balinese, and Chicago free jazz traditions and regularly mixed instruments such as the balafon (African marimba), chirimia (South American oboe), and garage band synths in his performances alongside his masterful trapset.