Gloria Cooper came to New York City via the Midwest and San Francisco and has been working in the "Big Apple" for over 10 years. She has Bachelors and Master Degrees in Music from the University of Columbia, Missouri. Inspired by such diverse styles as Erroll Garner, Red Garland and Wynton Kelly, Cooper started out as strictly a jazz pianist. She has since taken up vocalizing adding another dimension to her repertoire. By doing so, she joins a list of similarly-minded performers such as Shirley Horn, Sarah Vaughan and Jeri Southern, all of whom have successfully combined piano and singing. As a pianist, Ms Cooper has accompanied several jazz luminaries including trumpet player Eddie Henderson, tenor sax man David "Fathead" Newman and vocalist Gloria Lynne. She has worked at the Blue Note, Birdland, Grand Hyatt and the Renaissance. Cooper has recorded an album of songs composed by New York musician Joseph de Dominicis which was released in March, 1999 on the Carol MRP indie label. In the 1990's Ms Cooper continues to gig at local New York jazz venues. ~ Dave Nathan