Hamid Cooper's Latin Jazz Group November 6, 2010

HAMID COOPER LATIN JAZZ (F. J. Elliott - 3-1-10) Hamid Cooper's Latin Jazz group, a swinging small Latin Jazz combo based in picturesque Agoura Hills (between LA and Malibu) plays live dates in the Southern California region for listening and dancing. A few steps up in intensity from Muzak elevator fare, the sound is far less challenging than it is enjoyable. The musicians have a ready rapport and groove in a laid-back, yet musically tight unit. Their sound is a gentle classic west coast jazz mix featuring gentle jazzer Artis Ford keyboards (& vibes), the versatile and sensitive Iranian-American percussionist Hamid Cooper (leader) on congas, etc., Mike Negro on bass, De laun Martin on drums, and usually one or more wind players, notably among them Fred Horn on tenor sax (& flute).

Expect to be soothed and grooved more than wowed by this band. Check out their straight-ahead untainted take on the Dizzy Gillespie/Chano Pozo classic "Manteca" and their gentle way with slow numbers like Cuban composer Margarita Lecuona's "Taboo" featuring Horn on flute. A bouncy rendition of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" showcases Ford's smooth tenor tone and Cooper’s tradition-based conga playing. This is a band that fills airspace in intimate settings with delightfully memorable fare, where relaxation and groove take precedence over blistering speed and volume. They explore the cheery center, not the edgy avant-garde of Jazz, maintaining a light, straight-ahead west coast sound, with no fluff. Recommended.