Roger Cooper • Going Back To Old Kentucky

 

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Going Back to Old Kentucky is essentially a showcase for the instrumental skills of Roger Cooper, one of the best old-timey fiddlers of the '90s. As a result, there's might be a lack of full-fledged songs here -- nearly every song is arranged as a vehicle for Cooper's fiddling -- but it stands unparalleled as a fiddle record. There is zest and vigor within in his playing, which elevates him from the category of a mere technical wonder and into a fully rounded musician.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/going-back-to-old-kentucky-mw0000080086



Artist Biography
Roger Cooper of Lewis County grew up in a family of musicians. His father’s family was filled with guitar and banjo players, and he had one uncle who played fiddle. At eight years old, Cooper began playing the guitar, and at twelve he was playing backup to local fiddlers. Throughout the years, he played with most of the fiddlers residing in Lewis County, learning as they played together. In his early teens, local fiddler Buddy Thomas convinced Cooper to quit playing the guitar and focus on the fiddle. Thomas mentored Cooper, and they remained close until Thomas’ death in 1975. His teacher and friend’s death was hard for Cooper, but “by then he had done what he set out to do which was make me a fiddler,” he explains.

In the years following, Cooper worked hard and won multiple old-time fiddle contests, including contests throughout Kentucky and The Ohio State Championships. He also placed in the top 20 at the World’s Championship at Union Grove, North Carolina. Cooper has taught three apprenticeships through the Kentucky Arts Council, and in 2017, he received a Kentucky Governor’s Award in the Arts for his fiddling.

The fellowship will allow Cooper to focus on expanding his experience as a swing and jazz fiddler which he also enjoys playing in addition to old-time. He plans on traveling to meet some of the great swing fiddlers in the region, like Kenny Sears of Nashville, Greg Dearth of Franklin, Ohio, Dave Edmundson of Cincinnati, and Tom Cunningham of Louisville. He also plans on recording a swing fiddle album with the funds.
https://www.southarts.org/grant-fellowship-recipients/roger-cooper

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Reseña de Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Regresando al Viejo Kentucky es esencialmente un escaparate para las habilidades instrumentales de Roger Cooper, uno de los mejores violinistas de los 90. Como resultado, puede haber una falta de canciones completas aquí - casi todas las canciones están arregladas como un vehículo para el violín de Cooper - pero no tiene paralelo como un disco de violín. Hay entusiasmo y vigor en su forma de tocar, lo que lo eleva de la categoría de mera maravilla técnica a un músico completo.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/going-back-to-old-kentucky-mw0000080086



Biografía del artista
Roger Cooper del condado de Lewis creció en una familia de músicos. La familia de su padre estaba llena de guitarristas y banqueros, y tenía un tío que tocaba el violín. A los ocho años, Cooper empezó a tocar la guitarra, y a los doce tocaba como refuerzo de los violinistas locales. A lo largo de los años, tocó con la mayoría de los violinistas del condado de Lewis, aprendiendo mientras tocaban juntos. En su adolescencia, el violinista local Buddy Thomas convenció a Cooper de que dejara de tocar la guitarra y se concentrara en el violín. Thomas fue el mentor de Cooper, y se mantuvieron unidos hasta la muerte de Thomas en 1975. La muerte de su maestro y amigo fue muy dura para Cooper, pero "para entonces ya había hecho lo que se propuso hacer, que era convertirme en un violinista", explica.

En los años siguientes, Cooper trabajó duro y ganó varios concursos de violín antiguos, incluidos concursos en todo Kentucky y los Campeonatos del Estado de Ohio. También se colocó entre los 20 primeros en el Campeonato Mundial de Union Grove, Carolina del Norte. Cooper ha enseñado tres aprendizajes a través del Consejo de Artes de Kentucky, y en 2017, recibió el Premio del Gobernador de Kentucky en las Artes por su violín.

La beca permitirá a Cooper centrarse en ampliar su experiencia como violinista de swing y jazz, que también disfruta tocando además de los viejos tiempos. Tiene previsto viajar para conocer a algunos de los grandes violinistas de swing de la región, como Kenny Sears de Nashville, Greg Dearth de Franklin, Ohio, Dave Edmundson de Cincinnati y Tom Cunningham de Louisville. También planea grabar un álbum de swing fiddle con los fondos.
https://www.southarts.org/grant-fellowship-recipients/roger-cooper

 

www.southarts.org/roger-cooper ...

 

Tracklist:

1 - Nine Miles Out Of Louisville - 2:09
2 - Pine Creek - 2:09
3 - Cauliflower - 2:06
4 - New Money - 2:35
5 - Growling Old Man, Fussing Old Woman - 1:33
6 - Boatin' Up Sandy - 2:11
7 - Bostony - 2:25
8 - Warfield - 2:39
9 - Paddy - 2:01
10 - Susan's Gone - 2:36
11 - Morris Allen's Brickyard Joe - 2:22
12 - Weddington's Reel - 1:43
13 - Greek Melody - 2:08
14 - Salt Lick - 1:45
15 - Something Sweet To Tell - 1:22
16 - Charleston #1 - 2:03
17 - Snakewinder - 2:40
18 - Chillicothe Beauty - 2:16
19 - Portsmouth - 2:09
20 - Meg Gray - 1:54
21 - Bumblebee In A Jug - 2:06
22 - Coon Dog - 2:29
23 - Jimmy Arthurs - 1:41
24 - Going Back To Old Kentucky - 2:13
25 - Bear Creek Hop - 2:14


Credits:
    Fiddle – Roger Cooper
    Guitar – Mike Hall
    Mastered By – Frank Ferrel, Jeff Whitehead
    Photography By, Liner Notes – Roger Cooper
    Producer, Liner Notes – John Harrod
    Producer, Photography By, Liner Notes – Mark Wilson

Notes:
Recorded in Garrison, KY, and Columbus, OH, 1995-1996.
https://www.discogs.com/Roger-Cooper-Going-Back-To-Old-Kentucky/release/6415984

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