10 out of 10 review from 50djs50states.com
Formed by renowned poet Royal Kent and ASCAP Award-winning composer Wendy Loomis, COPUS presents conscious lyrics intertwined with beautiful melodies and powerful rhythms. COPUS has been ongoing since forming in the late nineties and has developed a faithful following of discerning listeners. In addition to Kent and Loomis, the current instrumentation includes bassist Patrick Mahon, drummer Levon Washington, and an array of guest artists.
COPUS has performed at festivals, jazz clubs, art galleries, private parties, charities and fundraising events throughout the United States including The Bitter End, Feinstein’s 54 Below in New York; The San Francisco Jazz Center Top of the Mark in the Bay Area; The Cutting Edge Festival in New Orleans; and the Peachtree Festival in Atlanta.
Most recently, COPUS presented world premieres in Washington, DC of their original score entitled “What if We?” at the World Bank and at the acclaimed Jefferson House for the 20th anniversary of the non-profit organization Forest Trends. “What if We?” is a composition with music by Wendy Loomis, poetry by Royal Kent, performance by COPUS, and in collaboration with a team of scientists from ClimateMusic Project. The subject was sea level rise.
The ensemble was nominated for ‘best jazz song’ by the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, was honored with ‘best spoken word’ by the Clouzine International Music Awards, the W.A.M. Award for ‘best social justice/peace song’ and has been on the GRAMMY ballot three times.. As one music critic wrote, “COPUS is like a combination of Quincy Jones meets Baz Luhrmann…theatrical & dramatic in nature with great storytelling.”
Scheduled for release in the spring of 2022, COPUS will be presenting the vinyl album “The Dilemma”. In addition to the quartet, guest artists on voice, rap, violin, trumpet, saxophone, bass clarinet, guitar, and congas. Single “Fillmore” – dedicated the history and culture of the Harlem of the West of the 1940s and 1950s – is from the album and can be heard here.
