The Cookers are a jazz supergroup formed in 2007, bringing together some of the most respected veterans of the hard bop tradition. The septet features an extraordinary lineup of musicians who each made their marks playing alongside legends like Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Max Roach, and Freddie Hubbard during the golden era of jazz.
The group consists of tenor saxophonist Billy Harper, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, trumpeter and musical director David Weiss, pianist George Cables, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Billy Hart. Each member brings decades of experience and a deep well of original compositions to the band’s repertoire.
Rather than simply revisiting the classic hard bop sound, The Cookers push the music forward while honoring its roots. Their performances crackle with the intensity and interplay that comes from musicians who have spent lifetimes mastering their craft. The band’s sound is powerful and uncompromising, characterized by fiery solos, sophisticated arrangements, and the kind of telepathic communication that only comes from shared history and mutual respect.
The Cookers have released several acclaimed albums and continue to perform at major jazz festivals and venues worldwide, proving that the hard bop flame burns as bright as ever in the hands of its true masters.