THE COOPER, HAY, VAN LENTE GROUP (CHV)

CHV is on hiatus and our prayers are with Dave Hay as he recovers from treatment for lung cancer.

CHV features Jim Cooper on vibes and marimba, Dave Hay on keyboards and acoustic bass and Mike Van Lente on drums. CHV has been captivating audiences throughout the midwest with their original music, classic jazz standards, blues and unique instrumentation.  Their latest CD, Trio Musik, was nominated in 2008 for Four Jammie Awards by WYCE in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  

CHV has performed many concerts, clubs and festivals including the Lansing Jazz Festival, Sutton’s Bay Jazz Festival, Thornapple Jazz Festival, the Saugatuck/Douglas Jazz Festival, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, First United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, Hope College, Northport (MI) Summer Music Series, Grand Valley State University, the GrandJazz Festival and the 2014 ArtPrize competition. CHV is slated to perform again at the 2015 Lansing Jazz Festival.

In 2010 the group decided to disband, but that decision was short lived. CHV is back in the saddle again. After regrouping, they discovered it was like never being away. “All those years of rehearsing paid off,” says Cooper.  “Dave is playing acoustic bass on some songs now, to give the group more contrast.  

"The chemistry between players is spot on...they managed to heat things up convincingly!" West MI Jazz Society Newsletter

“Marvelous, creative, modern music...” Linda Yohn, Program Director, WEMU-FM, Ypsilanti, MI

“...a great blend of talent and instrumentation.” Ken Sieloff, Conn-Selmer Company

“...few West Michigan jazz bands do it any better...the rhythmic interplay between band members make Trio Music a special project.”

Grand Rapids Press

Here are some links to listen and watch CHV.

To listen to cuts of Trio Musik at CD Baby click here

To listen to Falling Star CHV's ArtPrize entry from Trio Musik, click the following: Falling_Star_1.mp3

To listen to Wind and the Waves from Trio Musik, click the following: Wind_and_Waves_1.mp3

To watch CHV perform at the Thornapple Jazz Festival, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8O7NfHGt9g

more videos are coming soon

COOPER, HAY, VAN LENTE BIOS

 Jim Cooper has been playing jazz vibraphone for over 40 years, leading numerous groups and appearing as a soloist and sideman. A Chicago native, he has performed with Barrett Deems, Art Van Damme, Larry Vuckovich, Ira Sullivan, Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, Buddy DeFranco, Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble among others. His appearances include the Chicago, Sutton’s Bay, Lansing and Idlewild Jazz Festivals as well as clubs and concerts throughout the United States as well as overseas.

A Delmark Recording Artist in the 1990s, his recordings Tough Town and Nutville, with legendary multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan, received favorable reviews, Jazz Times calling Cooper, “a vibist who goes for the heart.” His other recording as a leader is his 2005 release, Itchin’ To Groove and Chi Town Sessions (2013) both onJazmyn Records.  He currently teaches general music at Glenn School, jazz piano at Lake Michigan College and jazz vibraphone at Northwestern University.  For more information, visit his website at www.jimcooper.net.

Dave Hay is one of the most in-demand pianists  in the state of Michigan. His extensive performing credits include appearances with artists such as James Carter, Marcus Roberts, John Hicks, Bill Watrous, The Mills Brothers, Butch Miles, Jimmy Heath, Regina Carter, Ralph Armstrong, Billy Hart, Elliot Zigmund, Randy Johnston, Marcus Belgrave, Kareem Riggens, The Lincoln Center Jazz Band, Jason Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis and Russell Malone. 

Dave has also performed master classes with Nat Adderley, Jimmy Cobb, Walter Booker and Rufus Reid.  Dave studied piano at Interlochen Fine Arts Camp and Interlochen Arts Academy and bass at both Berklee College of Music in Boston and Michigan State University. Dave currently teaches jazz at Grand Rapids Community College.

Mike Van Lente is a freelance jazz drummer, working all styles from theater gigs and small ensembles to big band.  He studied drums and percussion both at Hope College in Holland, MI and at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has performed with Clark Terry, Fred Hersch, Kenny Wheeler, The John Shea Trio and Walt Weiskopf among others. In addition to performing in many clubs and concerts in West Michigan, Mike has appeared at the Detroit Jazz Festival, Sutton’s Bay Jazz Festival, concerts with the Holland Symphony Orchestra and toured Mexico with the Hope Jazz Quartet.

In the past 3 years Mike has recorded CDs with five different ensembles in addition to playing numerous live performances on local radio programs.  Mike has been on the faculty at Hope College for the past 20 years teaching jazz percussion and performs with the Faculty Jazz Quintet as well playing for dance classes.