COPUS (band)

COPUS (Creation of Peace Under Stars) is a rap/jazz fusion ensemble. Based in San Francisco, COPUS has been collaborating on projects together since 1998.

Formed by poet Royal Kent and composer Wendy Loomis in 1998, the group has performed at clubs, theaters, and festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Atlanta, Boston, and at the WordxWord Festival in Western Massachusetts. The group has released CD “Later Than You Think”, single ‘The Fool”, trilogy “Jah Provide” and is currently working on their next full-length recording.

Current Band Members Include: Wendy Loomis; Royal Kent, Monica Williams; Patrick Mahon,

The group has performed at clubs, theaters, and festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Atlanta, Boston, and at the WordxWord Festival in Western Massachusetts. The group has released CD “Later Than You Think”, single ‘The Fool”, trilogy “Jah Provide” and is currently working on their next full-length recording. “COPUS could become legendary if given the opportunity to thrive!” -Michael Allison, MusicDish.com

Discography

Jah Provide

"Jah Provide" was released in 2008 under COPUS Music. It includes the three singles:

"King Solomon Lock" "Let Jah Children Speak" "Jah Provide"

Natty Dread

"Natty Dread" is a single available on iTunes released Feb 2011.

Andrew Gilbert from the Contra Costa Times

"While Royal Kent draws inspiration from such jazz-influenced writers as Langston Hughes and the Last Poets, he takes the tradition in a different direction in the San Francisco-based ensemble Copus, which he co-leads with pianist/composer Wendy Loomis (who premiered three works for flute choir in Walnut Creek). Swing is one element of the band's sound, but it draws as much from contemporary classical music and international sources as jazz. "They call themselves a 'word beat' group," Lowenberg said. "They're world/classical, with a very different approach than UpSurge! Avotcja tends to be more Latin and free, and Copus tends to be more groove-oriented.""

Review by Cheryl Eddy of SF Bay Guardian

Just before a show in San Francisco in 2002

"After meeting at an open mic event six years ago, poet Royal Kent and composer Wendy Loomis pooled their talents and formed Copus, a group that fuses spoken word with the members' own brand of millennium music (a mix of classical, world, blues, jazz, and other genres). This freethinking approach to the creative process makes Copus - now a full-fledged band with flute, drums, stand up bass, and other instruments - perfect as host of 'Language: The Journey to World Peace'.""

Review by Tom Kidd of Music Connection

"From San Francisco group COPUS comes one of the most intriguing, challenging, and ultimately satisfying albums of the year. The core of the group is composer, musical director and co-producer Wendy Loomis and Royal Kent, poet and co-producer. Together, they produce music that is part jazz, part classical, cerebral and sexy. Think of Copus as the love child of Jack Kerouac and Grace Jones."

"Later Thank You Think" Reviewed by Michael Allison 2001

"Copus is a musical group with some of the most talented musicians that I have yet come across. The music is a mixture of Spoken Word, jazz, a touch of blues and a hint of classical styles. This music is a little difficult to compare to anyone else because I have never really heard anyone like this group. The jazz styles are very complex and the music that is created is absolutely masterful. These compositions are amazing with just the music, but then you get the added pleasure of the smooth spoken word vocal styles of Royal Kent. His poetic onslaught of powerful lyrics are mind boggling, to say the least. His silky smooth voice holds a tight grip on the listener's ear and keeps them in a state of mind numbing [...]. The musical virtuosity of the members in this group is absolutely amazing. Having this much talent in one band should be a crime. The music develops into a sort of scenic painting in your mind as it is played. The warmth and soul of the musicians is almost seamlessly produced throughout the entire album. This is musicianship and songwriting at its best. I don't have to tell you how impressed I am at the talent and musical excellence that is portrayed here. This is new music for the new millennium. I also recommend this be one of the first choices for Spoken Word Album of the Year."

External links

• Copus Music 1