Darlene Cooper & Bill Sample
Their music, a combination of jazz, funk, soul, blues with βsmokyβ ballads, blends groove with complex chords, rhythms, and soulful melodies.
In music and life the outside is where you are when you are different. Good things can happen there.
Limited Edition Vinyl of βYou & Iβ available for purchase!
YOU & I
Bill & Darlene weave their own love story into the fabric of this recording of beloved Jazz Standards. Enjoy this very intimate and personal performance from Bill & Darleneβs home to yours.
“There is always something fascinating about meeting couples that are a good match - in art and love. I believe that singer Darlene Cooper and pianist Bill Sample are such a couple / match. Their duo album, You & I, is at least an unequivocal proof of this. And I do not draw that conclusion because the album is called what it is called, but also because the interplay the two perform and demonstrate is so pronouncedly sensual, beautiful and intimate. ”
New Videos!
Wild Blue Herons debuted their band with horns at the Anvil Theatre on January 30th, 2024. They play groove-oriented jazz with a funky/gospel twist (Jazz Crusaders, Dr Music) to intimate ballads by the great ladies of jazz, in particular Nancy Wilson. Subscribe to stay on top of new videos.
About WBH
Wild Blue Herons (WBH) are Bill Sample and Darlene Cooper (Ketchum) and a whole lot of incredible musicians. Their music, a combination of jazz, funk, soul, blues with βsmokyβ ballads, blends groove with complex chords, rhythms, and soulful melodies.
Have a Listen
Enjoy this Wild Blue Herons original work, "Don't Listen to the Devil" as heard on their first CD On the Outside. "A little bit jazzy, a whole lot funky, with smoking vocals and a stellar group of musicians who know what to play and how to play it"
Wild Blue Herons with Horns!
Wild Blue Herons with Horns are the magnetic husband-and-wife duo of BC Entertainment Hall of Famer, Bill Sample, and Darlene Cooper. Adding horns to their line up, namely Tom Keenlyside on tenor sax and Jim Hopson on trombone, they play groove-oriented jazz with a funky/gospel twist (Jazz Crusaders, Dr Music) to intimate ballads by the great ladies of jazz, in particular Nancy Wilson. Rounding out the band will be Miles Foxx Hill on bass and Randall Stoll on drums. Collectively, this team of musicians has played with everyone from Ray Charles to Celine Dion.
“βPure emotionβ¦ a full on listening experience that sizzles deceptivelyβ ”
Gigs
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"I had the great pleasure of getting to hear my dear friend and colleague Bill Sample and the band WBH a couple of months back β It was a treat from beginning to end β great vocals from Darlene β incredible musicianship from everyone on stage and unique but very musical and thoughtful arrangements on every song!!
The album doesnβt disappoint at all and is a perfect reflection of who they are live β If you get a chance β please give them a listen β you will thank me."
β David Foster
