Copeland, Les
To Be In Your Company
Les Copeland may not be a household name in Chicago, but Earwig Musics newest CD release of Les To Be In Your Company is sure to change all that! A native of British Columbia and lifelong musician, Les has spent his career fronting hardcore blues bands, jazz bands, pop music bands and everything in between. However, like so many versatile and talented musicians, Les first love has always been the blues. He was bitten by the Mississippi John Hurt bug early on, and his affinity for pre-war Piedmont and ragtime styles is very obvious, playing with an authenticity and ease that belie a deep talent. Primarily a solo performance, To Be In Your Company reveals Les to be both a gifted vocalist and brilliant instrumentalist. His guitar work combines elements of Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Blake, Barbecue Bob, Furry Lewis, the ghost of Robert Johnson and Chuck Berry to name but a few. Combining this rich and colorful instrumentation with a wizened and playful vocal delivery, Les creates an intimate and heartfelt atmosphere that begs the listener to dig deep into the songs and arrangements.