Ray Copeland (July 17, 1926 – May 18, 1984) was an American jazz trumpet player and teacher.

Early life

Copeland was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He studied at Boys High School in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Career

Copeland's active career spanned from the 1940s to the 1980s. Throughout his career he participated on many swing and hard bop dates, appearing on the well known Monk's Music by Thelonious Monk recorded in June 1957. Copeland played with a swinging, upbeat approach, but was undoubtedly overshadowed by other top trumpeters of the era such as Lee Morgan and Clifford Brown. He toured with Thelonious Monk in 1968, and appeared at the 1973 Newport Jazz Festival. Later, Copeland was a Music Professor at Hampshire College, teaching jazz composition. In 1974, he published the book The Ray Copeland Method and Approach to the Creative Art of Jazz Improvisation. Copeland never recorded as a session leader.

Personal life

Copeland's son, Keith Copeland, was a noted jazz drummer. Ray died of a heart attack in 1984 in Sunderland, Massachusetts.

Discography

With Thelonious Monk With Specs Powell With Randy Weston With Jimmy Witherspoon With others