Buster Cooper
b. George Cooper, 4 April 1929, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA. Coming from a musical family—his brother Steve plays bass-trombonist Cooper worked briefly in a band led by a cousin, then joined Nat Towles's famous Texas-based band. He later advanced his musical knowledge studying in New York before joining Lionel Hampton in 1953. He spent the rest of the '50s working with various bands including those led by Benny Goodman and Lucky Millinder and also co-leading a band with his brother. In 1962 he joined Duke Ellington, who would sometimes drily introduce him as Trombonio-Bustoso-issimo, where he remained for seven years before returning to his home state and another joint band with his brother. In the early '70s he decided to relocate to the west coast and since then has worked with several big bands, notably those led by Frank Capp- Nat Pierce and Bill Berry. He has also toured both as a soloist and with Berry and Marshal Royal as an Ellington alumni group. A powerful player with a searing attack and brilliant technique, Cooper's solos are frequently characterized by humour and by extraordinary cadenzas which leave audiences and fellow musicians, but not him, breathless. In a more mellow mood, when he performs ballads, he brings to his playing an attractive and delicately-romantic touch.