For decades the incomparable Ray Cooper has been playing with some of the music industry’s greatest names. We caught up with the near-legendary percussionist ahead of his performance this week on stage with Sir Elton John …
Apart from Elton, whom have you really enjoyed working with?
I’ve been very lucky and very privileged to have a rich career, packed with all sorts of adventures – working in theatre, in film and creating music.
I started as a classical musician, working with Sir John Barbirolli and the likes of conductor Carlo Maria Giilini before I moved into jazz.
I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the greats, like Sir John Dankworth and Cleo Lane. I even performed on stage with George Benson and Quincy Jones at the Montreux Jazz Festival where I had the astounding privilege of playing with Mr Ray Charles.
I’m also one of the few musicians to have worked with every Beatle individually. I enjoyed a long partnership with George Harrison; we made films together. For many years my full-time job was working as a producer and I actually stopped performing. We worked with Terry Gilliam, the Monty Python boys and Bob Hoskins. We had some great times and film is still one of my many passions.
I enjoyed working with all of these people. I’m lucky really as working in entertainment allows you to remain young. I still feel like a child and enjoy every moment.
Working with Elton has always been a pleasure. I have known Elton since before he was ‘Elton’, when he was still a session musician. He was young, full of energy and on a quest to learn everything there was to know about the music business. He was like a blotting pad, just taking it all in.
What can fans expect from your performance with Elton?
This is a very different show that Elton and I perform together. It’s just the two of us on stage so it’s instantly more theatrical.
My background in theatre is a bonus, but Elton’s dramatic orchestral back catalogue also helps!
There’ll be no drum kit as you would normally see on stage and instead the setup will be more orchestral, with me lurking in the shadows and springing into the light. It’ll be very different from anything audiences have seen before in Abu Dhabi, I can guarantee it!
The first hour will be something of a tribute to Elton and his music and the audience will be able to enjoy him alone on stage. Then I arrive and build on the theatrical elements of the show.
From then on it’s just about having fun on stage and enjoying each other’s company and that of the audience. As a classically trained jazz musician I allow Elton the freedom he needs on stage and he just flies. It’s always a privilege acting as an enabler for such a fantastic musician.
You’re known for incorporating exotic instruments into your performances. Will you be using any traditional Arabic instruments on stage with Elton?
Unfortunately I won’t be playing any Arabic instruments this time, although I adore listening to them and playing them when I can. I can’t profess to be an expert at playing any of them so I’d love to learn more about them while I’m here in Abu Dhabi.
We’ll be playing a lot of South American and Latin American instruments.
One thing I’m hoping to do while I’m in the UAE is find time to buy some local instruments; maybe some drums to take home. We’ll see.
What is your favourite instrument to perform with?
As a percussionist I’m a member of the largest family in the orchestra and to me every instrument is wonderful in its own way. I love playing them all.
I feel like a water colour painter and all the instruments are like my colour board, coming together to create a lyrical accompaniment or a musical line.
One instrument that I do use a lot though is the tambourine. It’s simple and a form of it is present in almost every culture around the world. It’s a beautiful, rhythmic and multi-faceted instrument that I’m still discovering. One can express rhythm both visually and orally with a tambourine.
Is this your first time in the Middle East and what are you expecting from your visit?
Yes, this will be my first time in the Middle East. I’ve visited the Far East and Africa many times, but I can’t wait to experience the tastes, sights and sounds of the UAE.
I already know that I’ll want to come back – even if it’s only to shop for more instruments.
What motivates you to keep performing? Do you think you’ll ever stop?
The joy I get from performing and being able to instantaneously transmit that to an audience is one of the greatest blessings of being an artist. The language of music is universal and I still find it miraculous.
I’ll never stop performing as long as I live. It’s such an emotional experience that is hard to match.
You’ve known Elton for a long time –
how would you describe him on and off
the stage?
Elton is one of the most generous men that I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet both on and off the stage. He’s always been a generous performer so he’s great to work with, but he’s also constantly searching for new talent.
A lot has been made of his ‘diva’ behaviour in the press over the years, but I can honestly say that I have never witnessed this or had any issues with Elton. I think that any outspoken moments he’s had have been very tongue-in-cheek. Plus, of course everything said would have been taken out of context!
I feel very lucky and privileged that Elton has been a part of my life. He has enriched it.
How did you decide on the songs you’ll be playing on stage in Abu Dhabi with such an epic back catalogue to choose from?
A lot of Elton’s duets lend themselves to the theatrical and much of his back catalogue is very orchestral so they fit this kind of performance perfectly.
Indian Sunset written in 1971 is a perfect example of this. It starts with a wonderful a cappella and speaks about the death of the Indian nation in America. It lends itself to people with the emotive words and the music; it’s so powerful.
We originally performed this kind of show together in 1978 for charity. It shook us both how well our performance was received by the audience, and so we toured again in 1979 in Russia. We actually performed the first-ever live broadcast from Russia!
It’s been 30 years or so but now we’re back and enjoying each other’s company on stage.
For me it’s all about serving the music. I believe performance should always incorporate certain elements of the theatrical; it’s that creativity and collaboration between music and theatre that really does it for me. It’s the richest combination and what music is all about in my opinion.
Megan Wynes
