Chris Coogan to Debut New CD During Holiday Jazz Concert

On Dec. 12, Weston-based musician Chris Coogan will celebrate the holiday season as well as the release of his new jazz CD.

 A Chris Coogan Christmas Concert will take place 7 p.m. at Norfield Grange, 12 Goodhill Road, in Weston. Tickets, priced $25 for adults, will be sold at the door. Admission for children is $10.

The concert will begin with Coogan and his jazz quintet playing original music from the new CD, titled "Stars and Wind."

"From there we will play Christmas jazz music," says Coogan. "A major feature of our concert is to take the traditional carols and rearrange them with new jazz sensibilities."

He adds, "We will also perform original Christmas music that I have composed. The special soloist of the evening will be Michele Grace, who is a fine actress and singer."

"Stars and Wind," Coogan's first jazz release since 2001, will be available for purchase during the concert. "Stars and Wind" features a contemporary jazz composition performed by a traditional jazz quintet including strong melody on sax and trumpet. "The music also features cool grooves with the rhythm section," says Coogan.

The CD has been three years in the making. "We've been working on this CD during our spare time, doing a lot of fine-tuning to make sure everything sounds just right" says Coogan. "The end result is really wonderful. It's joyful jazz!"

The Chris Coogan Jazz Quintet is comprised of Coogan on piano, Rex Denton (Madison) on trumpet, Jim Royle (Monroe) on drums, Jim Clark (Norwalk) on sax and John Mobilio(Watertown) on bass.

For information on the CD or the Chris Coogan Christmas Concert call 203-454-4695, e-mail chris@cooganmusic.com or visit www.cooganmusic.com

 About Chris Coogan

 Coogan is a multi-talented entertainer who, as a composer, performer, teacher, choir director and producer, is rooted in the jazz and gospel traditions. Coogan performs original and traditional music as a pianist and singer, as the leader of a jazz group, and as director of the Good News Gospel Choir. In addition, he teaches jazz piano and leads gospel workshops throughout the country.

Coogan's credits include performances with Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, Lou Soloff, Jimmy Vivino, Harold Danko, Ronnie Spector, James Naughton, Phoebe Snow, Jose Feliciano, Steven Van Zandt, Paul Shaffer, Bette Midler, Donna Summer, Will Lee, Shawn Pelton, Vaneese Thomas, Rob Mathes, Kristen Chenoweth, Joe Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult, Teo Maceo, the producer for the late Miles Davis. Coogan appeared on television's Celebrity Jeopardy and the Arsenio Hall Show, and has performed at Manhattan's Blue Note as well as the Montreaux Jazz Festival.

He has written and performed original Gospel music for PBS on prime time television in a documentary on the evangelist, Amy Semple Mcferson with acclaimed Emmy winning composer, Brian Keane.
 
He has performed locally at parties for Martha Stewart, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward and been asked to perform for President Bill and Hillary Clinton.

He is the leader of New Canaan's Park Street Singers, a women's choral group that presents two programs each year: a spring-fall program and a holiday program, which are performed at nursing homes and senior centers. He also leads The Hoot Owls, a singing group of the Y's Men of Westport and Weston, which perform as many as 25 times per year at retirement homes, churches, senior centers and various clubs.