Music

The Cookers: A Bebop Supergroup

Jazz24 | By Nick Morrison

Published July 19, 2012 at 4:30 PM EDT

1 of 8 — The Cookers.

The Cookers.

2 of 8 — The Cookers with host Kevin Kniestedt. L-R: Kniestedt, Billy Hart, George Cables, Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson, Cecil McBee, David Weiss.

The Cookers with host Kevin Kniestedt. L-R: Kniestedt, Billy Hart, George Cables, Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson, Cecil McBee, David Weiss.

3 of 8 — Saxophonist Billy Harper.

Saxophonist Billy Harper.

4 of 8 — Cecil McBee.

Cecil McBee.

5 of 8 — Trumpeter Eddie Henderson.

Trumpeter Eddie Henderson.

6 of 8 — Billy Hart.

Billy Hart.

7 of 8 — David Weiss and Eddie Henderson.

David Weiss and Eddie Henderson.

8 of 8 — Harper, Weiss, Henderson.

Harper, Weiss, Henderson.

If we were to make a list of all the recording and composing credits of the members of The Cookers, it would go on for many pages. The band is an amazing collection of veteran jazz musicians: Billy Hart (drums), Cecil McBee (bass), Eddie Henderson (trumpet), David Weiss (trumpet), Billy Harper (sax) and George Cables (piano).

Individually, they've been at the core of the post-bop jazz scene for decades. As a group, they've been thrilling audiences around the world for the past 5 years. On a recent swing through Seattle, they set up shop in the KPLU performance studio and tried to blow the walls out of the place with "Capra Black," "Peace Maker" and "Croquet Ballet." No question: These guys live up to their name.