SALLY COOPER: Perfect Universe

Sally Cooper

Perfect Universe

© 2006 Sally Cooper

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Fronted by Aussie vocalist Sally Cooper, Jazz and Blues with Grunt.

notes

Since Australian singer songwriter Sally Cooper formed her own band, Duo and Trio: "The Sally Cooper Band Duo and Trio" in 1996, they have been doing a continuous run of live performances across Australasia. Initially she performed regularly in all the good music venues in Sydney, and their noteriety began to extend across New South Wales, and Queensland, and as far as The Australian outback. 2000 saw her becoming an international act, she has been performing with her duo and Trio 6 nights a week all year round in Singapore, Bangkok, Bahrain, Dubai, India, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Tahiti since then.

While she was performing in India in 2005, she started to feel a need to return to her Australian roots, and also to where her original love of music came from, which is both perfectly and imperfectly expressed in "Perfect Universe". (Its up to your perception as to wether you can grasp the concept of the perfection of imperfection, which is the albums' theme.) She and her partner, Guitarist Phillip Stone penned most of the original material on this album during their 10 months of performing in India. The end result is true to their original vision to record an an acoustic, distinctly Australian Jazz, Blues and Roots album. It is perfectly imperfect, recorded live, it is jazzy in a rootsy way, and its' real.

Sally made the decision to return to her hometown of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. to record this album. Which in some ways was a very challenging move to make. Very few music artists have acheived much success in their hometown. There were plenty of other international work opportunities available for her at the time and there was also a lot of interest to record the album with world class producers and highly talented musicians of considerable noteriety in Sydney and overseas. But she felt that the choice to record "Perfect Universe" in her hometown with local musicians was in keeping with the albums' concept of "getting back to her roots" and being as real and down to earth in a musical sense as possible.

An additional main reason for her making the choice to record this album in Queensland was that it was Sallys' intention and wish to contribute to the local music community in her home state by offering work and exposure for quality local musicians on her jazz/roots cd project, rather than outsourcing the work for the musicians interstate or internationally.

The project was entirely funded by Sally, and was recorded in Queensland Australia 2006 at Electric Bedland Studios by "The Sally Cooper Band." Self produced. The band features Sally Cooper on vocals, Phillip Stone on Guitar, Legendary drummer Kerry Jacobsen from the rock group "Dragon" on drums, Gus Fenwick on bass, and Ross Nixon on keyboards. Additional vocals by Barry Charles are featured on "Dreaming out Loud"

Driven by a rock solid Jazz Blues groove sensibility in the rhythm section, the album glistens with strokes of brilliance in terms of guitar playing by Phillip Stone, all of which provides a suitable, yet unpretentious musical climate for Sally Cooper to unleash her huge range of vocal expression. She does so ever so sweetly and smoothly at times, and at other times it is simply in your face, and you are reminded that she really does mean it, every word of it.

Where would Sally Cooper most likely be right now as you are reading this? Up on stage somewhere in Asia or Australia singing her heart out, or preparing to. Owning a copy of "Perfect Universe" is like owning a piece of the magic that so many thousands of people have enjoyed in Sally Coopers' international live performances.

reviews

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  • Great Vocals, guitar playing, grooves and live band sound.
    author: Peter Goodhall

    A Great cd, my favourite track is "Spreading that Stuff." Great Vocals, great guitar playing, love the grooves and live band sound. Have listened to her work before which I enjoyed, and am even more impressed with the direction Sally Cooper is taking with this cd.

  • Great Vocals, guitar playing, grooves and live band sound.
    author: Peter Goodhall

    A Great cd, my favourite track is "Spreading that Stuff." Great Vocals, great guitar playing, love the grooves and live band sound. Have listened to her work before which I enjoyed, and am even more impressed with the direction Sally Cooper is taking with this cd.

  • Overall, Perfect Universe is a must for all lovers of the jazz/blues tradition.
    author: Scott Mackeigan/The West Coast Show

    The Apple of Temptation sets the tone as the first song on Sally Coopers new CD Perfect Universe. This bluesy jazz vamp showcases the strength and confidence of Sally’s voice as she seduces the listener with her sultry tone cradled by one of the finest combos you will hear anywhere. After this introduction to Sally’s world things really get rolling on the second track: Spreading That Stuff. Here you will find not only exceptional vocals with a range and control that is second to none, but some of the most playful lyrics ever written! God Bless The Child That Got His Own is an original yet familiar torch burner that will have you slow dancing even if you have to use a pillow for a partner. The fourth song Soon Enough starts out like June Christie with Latin guitar then breaks out into mature contemporary song that could find a home on pop charts. Although this song moves Sally away from her home turf of sophisticated blues, she rises to the occasion and proves her versatility. Sally’s cover of Bobby McGee is very competent but I found it disruptive to the flow of the mood of the record. Dr. Feelgood is an authentic blues song that brings Sally back to what she does best, her scat like vocals leave one in awe of her mastery of timing and phrasing. Take A Bite is also another of my personal favorites on the record. This modern Jazz standard is on solid footing with its classic predecessors. The title track for the CD is Perfect Universe which is the perfect vehicle for Sally’s incredible talent. In Dreaming Out Loud Sally shares the microphone with a very talented singer, the result is one of the warmest duets of our time. Sally finishes her CD with a simple acoustic version Waltzing Matilida, which I found a curious choice to end a otherwise brilliant jazz/blues recording. She does a good job of the folk songs, but she shines as a jazz singer.

  • Talent a plenty
    author: Ed Drury

    Combine one part guitar genius with one part fantastic jazz vocal instrument, stir in sprinkles of fully professional and experienced session men and cook in a preheated oven of a fine studio and you’ve just cooked up one fine entree for dining in the Perfect Universe. Sally’s voices, sails, cruises and dances through a tasty menu of original and carefully chosen material ranging from the very clever title track to the Australian traditional Waltzing Matilda. The blues standard, God Bless the Child that’s got his Own, is a perfect example of life in this perfect universe where all instrumental performances are clean, clear and beautiful. And Sally’s voice is one of those instruments which ring clear and true straight through to the heart. Me and Bobbie McGee has never been so vocally blessed since Janis Joplin’s famous recording of it. But this is no recreation of that epic achievement. It is, rather, a completely different experience more true to the songs original folk roots yet with a smoothness unlike any other treatment I’ve heard. This CD showcases two very rare and gifted virtuosos in Phillip Stone and Sally Cooper. The selection of material gives the listener opportunity to hear these remarkable musicians apply their craft to both familiar standards and exciting original material. It’s basically everything one could ask for and delivers more in terms of thought full production and carefully crafted arrangements. The big bonus here is the sheer diversity of the material, covering folk, blues, jazz and rock without compromising or middle of the road arrangements. It treats the listeners rather than patronizes them making it an enjoyable ride to take for anyone.

  • God Bless this Child,she has her own
    author: Evan Paul

    I find it impossible to write a short review of "Perfect Universe" by Sally Cooper.There's just too much great music here. Yes, it is a jazzy bluesy offering with original well crafted songs such as "Take a Bite", my fave, but very debatable when I listen to "Apple of Temptation", "Spreading that Stuff", "Perfect Universe", "Soon Enough"...and on. What makes this CD so good? In my opinion it goes like this...songwriting...incredible vocal performances and conviction to the lyrics by Sally...support of musical ideas and performance by guitarist, Phillip Stone...top notch performances and support of band, Ross Nixon keyboards, Kerry Jacobs drums, Gus Fenwick bass. The CD is well balanced with some standards such as Sally's unforgetable performance of "God Bless the Child", "Me and Bobby McGhee" and what? "Waltzing Matilda?" Well why not? After all they are Aussie but they don't just go through the motions here, they put the time in arrangement and made them their own. In conclusion, this is one of the best CDs I've heard lately, the sound is impeccable, so why not "Take a Bite", I promise, you won't be sorry.

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