Eric Copeland has been playing piano, writing songs, and making recordings of his music since he was 13. In his college years, he became interested in jazz, heavily influenced by the vocal jazz and pop of Al Jarreau, the keyboard and synthesizer work of Jeff Lorber, and other artists like Gino Vanelli, Manhattan Transfer, and Bruce Hornsby. By his twenties Eric was also adding modern jazz groups like the Yellowjackets, Steps Ahead, Pat Metheny, and Flim and the BBs. Vocal jazz music also figured in heavily with Michael Franks and Take 6.

His interest in Christian music, as well as his keyboard programming and production skills, brought a natural role as producer, and Eric has now served in this role on hundreds of albums, EPs, and singles for artists across the US and the world.

But his love of jazz, and especially writing and arranging his own unique vision of jazz has brought him full circle with his current release, "The Jazz in Me".

The Jazz in Me

THE JAZZ IN ME marks the return to original jazz music by producer, keyboardist, and songwriter Eric Copeland. After releasing albums of his own in the 90's, including the funky, synth jazz "Cooler" and the seminal, laid back "Stolen Moments", Copeland began producing albums for national and international artists full-time. In the past few years though, Copeland began retooling some older songs he had written for other artists (My Steps Are Ordered, Come to Me), new takes on classic hymns (Softly and Tenderly, Just As I Am), polishing up a few he had previously released (Have Thine Own Way), and writing new tunes that defined his current place in life (In Between Dreams, On the Side). The result is THE JAZZ IN ME.

All this has been accompanied in the last few years by a sudden and intense need to study jazz history, and dive deeper into why jazz is such an important part of his life. THE JAZZ IN ME is more than a new CD, it's the result of study, prayer, and hours of listening, playing, and talking about jazz.

"I've found that my love for jazz is deeper than just a genre or niche my music happens to fall under. The elements that make up jazz: improvisation, composition, rhythm, melody, structure, harmony, repetition...these are things that are part of EVERYTHING I do, not just music. And then the history of jazz is just a fascinating and, historically speaking, relatively recent ascension of a whole new music, that like classical before it, has it's own forefathers: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, etc."

"There is also my whole passion for Christian music, and trying to bring something different to the table there. God gave me quite different gifts and thought processes than other musicians, producers, and writers. I think it has taken this far in my life to see how and where my personal music, blending jazz and gospel, fits in. But I believe there is plenty to say about God in the context of jazz, that I could make CDs for a lifetime and never get it all out. THE JAZZ IN ME is a step in that direction."

The Artist Side...

Right, so he's a producer, songwriter, arranger, author, speaker, web designer, graphic artist, and label head...but the reason he started all this nonsense is that he actually does enjoy writing and arranging his own stuff. Go figure.

Since elementary school, Eric has been recording his own songs. Through the years, a keyboard-based, nu-jazz-pop style has emerged and brought several releases.

In the late 90's, Eric released "It's So Cool", and later, a remixed version called "Cooler". It was well received and gathered praise in Christian jazz circles (small as they are) as well as some Christian pop radio around the world.

In 2000, Eric released the seminal "Stolen Moments". A relaxing set of music for those quiet, reflective times. Five weeks at number one on the then popular MP3 Smooth Jazz chart helped the CD get a jump start, and it's still popular and selling today.

Currently Eric is lead producer and president of Creative Soul Records just outside Nashville, TN. Working as writer, arranger, producer, and label head sometimes leaves little time for his own music. But Eric actually is planning several new releases with help from the amazing talents of Nashville musicians and engineers.

Eric Copeland Friends

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