(2013 Standard
Bank Young Artist for Jazz - Shane Cooper. Pic by Adam McConnachie)
The 2013 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for Jazz,
Shane Cooper (27) understands the difficult terrain of the music industry and
why an award in the music sector can be the ideal incentive for career
advancement. Working as a bassist, composer, producer and educator, Shane Cooper
originally from Port Elizabeth is now based in Cape Town.
“When I was about 16, I realised that playing bass and
making music was the most enjoyable thing for me to spend my time doing,” said
Cooper, who decided to move from high school to home schooling so he could
spend more time practicing bass and studying music. “Being able to create
worlds and stories with sound and music as the medium was the ultimate journey
for me. Jazz was one of the best vehicles for me to do that with the freedom it
gives through the element of improvisation.”
Cooper has performed and recorded with some of the leading
jazz artists and bands in South Africa including Zim Ngqawana, Kyle Shepherd,
Feya Faku, Bokani Dyer, Marcus Wyatt, Louis Moholo-Moholo, Babu and more. With
some of these groups he has toured around Europe, India, Africa and the US.
“One of the best aspects of being a musician is the
collaborations you work on. The jazz world is especially built around different
artists working on new projects together and creating shared visions,” said
Cooper. “When the groups that I work with have a chemistry together we can
create things that wouldn't happen outside of that unit. If the projects I'm
involved in (whether playing my compositions or others') can continue to pursue
new ideas, take on sounds without being bound by rules, and grow with the
individual members, I will be happy.”
Cooper performs his original instrumental jazz compositions
with different groups in and around Cape Town. He has also composed original
music for theatre, film soundtracks (including co-composing the SAFTA award winning
soundtrack for Visa Vie), and
television. He also produces and releases electronic music under the name Card
On Spokes.
He mentions Graham Beyer, Gerard O'Brien and Carlo Mombelli,
as a few of his musical heroes. “Also Zim Ngqawana, whose presence as a
musician, improviser and band-leader on stage was immense, with his absolute
commitment to every note and having intention attached to every moment of sound
and silence alike,” said Cooper.
When he’s not making music, Cooper enjoys hanging out with
his dog, cooking, travelling, and playing a bit of squash and ping pong.
“In the music industry, right now, it's very hard to get any
financial support from record labels, while gig fees haven't increased or have
gone down. There are less jazz venues, and more musicians. Having time to focus
on practicing and writing jazz music has become less viable financially.
Receiving an award like this is an honour, because it is recognition for a
difficult road to travel, and I have a lot of respect for the artists who have
won before,” said Cooper. “It is an opportunity to get more out of the time I
spend working on my music which is great. For the artists I would say this
support is very important, and can do a great deal to help push one's career
forward. This kind of support for the arts can help cultivate more creativity,
and exploration, and I would love to see more institutions doing this kind of
thing in South Africa.”
The winners of The Standard Bank Young Artist Awards feature
on the main programme of the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and receive
financial support for their Festival participation, as well as a cash prize.
For more information on the National Arts Festival, click on the banner advert
at the top of this page.
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