JAZZ VIBRAPHONIST JIM COOPER WINS ARTPRIZE AWARD
Vibraphonist and composer Jim Cooper won the 2015 ArtPrize’s Critic’s Choice Award on October 7th for his song, Third Circle. ArtPrize takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan for three weeks every September and October. Cooper was awarded the $1000 prize which also includes five hours of free studio time. The Critic’s Choice Award was chosen and presented by WBLU-FMs Lazaro Vega.
The Critic’s Choice music category was first initiated this year as an addition to the popular vote award. There were five categories of music. The award was presented at St.Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids which sponsors the music competition at ArtPrize.
The ArtPrize winning song, Third Circle was recorded in 2004 on Jim’s Itchin’ To Groove CD. Cooper explains, “Third Circle comes from the Urantia Book and refers to striving for intellectual, physical and spiritual maturity. With this attainment we not only improve ourselves to be the best we can be, but as a result, collectively, improve our world.
Other musicians that appear on Third Circle are Terry Lower on piano, Tom Lockwood on bass and Larry Ochiltree on drums.
Lazaro Vega makes the award