The award winning veteran vibraphonist, pianist, composer and teacher, Jim Cooper, has been playing the vibes for over 50 years, leading numerous groups and appearing as both soloist and sideman. Over the years, Jim has performed with international jazz artists Frank Wess, Milt Hinton, Mark Levine, Marcus Belgrave, Ira Sullivan, Buddy de Franco, and Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble. Originally from Chicago, he moved to West Michigan in 1997, where he also performed with many Michigan musicians including Dave Bennett, Jeff Haas, Jerry McKenzie, Tad Weed and Paul Keller to name a few.  

He has appeared in many clubs, concerts and festivals including, The Chicago Jazz Festival, Sutton’s Bay (MI) Jazz Festival, Lansing Jazz Festival, Sedona Jazz on the Rocks (AZ), Grand Rapids Jazz Festival, The South Haven Jazz Festival, Paradise Valley Jazz Party (AZ), Chicago’s Millennium Park, Joe Segal’s Jazz Showcase, Chicago’s Green Mill,  Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, Cleveland's Bop Stop and venues in Phoenix, San Francisco,  Denver and Taiwan.