Jack and the Spare Hearts - Electronic Press Kit
Jack and the Spare Hearts is a Kitchener-based 5-piece band who play original tunes with a touch of R&B, a hit of New Wave, a heap of funk, and pinch of Ska—and an attitude that says we are here to enjoy ourselves. And feel free to do the same!
Formed in the Fall of 2021, the band quickly honed its sound based on the inventive yet tasteful interplay between two horns and lead guitar backed by a solid rhythm section.
Songwriter and frontman Jack Cooper brings a love of 70’s New Wave, Stax, and Motown to a band with an abundant joy for making music and bending genres.
The result is the R&B romp ‘Worst Kept Secret‘, or funk-based tirade of ‘All Been Fooled Again‘, or the 50s-style horns and camp of ‘Selfie Love‘ or the jangly pop of ‘Morning Girl‘.
Financial support from the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund (RWAF) in 2023 helped introduce the band to audiences by presenting a series of shows at The Jazz Room in Waterloo, ON featuring the band along with musical guests accompanied by the band. High-quality video and audio footage resulted in production of a live album titled ” My Medication Live!” to be formally launched in June 2025 at The Union in Kitchener.
Performance highlights over the past few years include:
- The Duke of Wellington, Waterloo ON
- The Edelweiss Tavern, Kitchener ON
- The Wooly Pub, Guelph, ON
- The Elora Brewing Company, Elora ON
Band Members
Jack Cooper: lead vocals, rhythm guitar, valve trombone—30+ years in Waterloo Region’s music community as performer, recording artist. presenter, publisher. and low-brass sideman with numerous local recording and performance projects.
Robert Reid: lead guitar—60+ years performing includes international touring with The Platters, festival and venue performances with The Tucson Choir Boys, Cheryl Lescom, Katy Topham, and Jesse Treneer, and as producer and music director of “The Talented” he gave artists like Matt Weidinger and Alysha Brilla significant early performance opportunities.
Kim Regimbal: tenor sax, flute, vocals, percussion—20+ years and over a thousand shows full of boundless creativity and multi-instrumental fluency gracing projects like Richard Garvey, Snack! and Devil Spork. He’s also a full-time middle school music teacher, which somehow helps with this bunch.
Peter Turpin: bass guitar—Numerous years in Guelph and Waterloo Region’s music communities as an in-demand bass player for live performance and recording projects.
Steve Aylward: Drums—Drummer, multi-instrumentalist and freelance audio engineer supporting a diverse range of projects across multiple genres with artists including Richard Garvey, Alison Corbett, The Explore Trio, and Vox Confidential.
Live Performance Video
All Been Fooled Again
An extended funk number featuring horn-based riffs and multiple solos. Lyrically reflects the global confusion after a worldwide pandemic and proliferation of conspiracy theories, with a special guest appearance by Canada’s ‘Freedom’ Convoy.
Recorded live a The Jazz Room in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada on February 15, 2024.
Written by Jack Cooper, 2022
Black Friday
A fast-paced number written shortly after the Dobbs decision was delivered by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in 2022 overruling constitutional protection of women’s right to abortion.
Recorded live at The Jazz Room in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada on June 9, 2024.
Written by Jack Cooper, 2022
You’re Gonna Rise
Slow, Jazz/Blues number influenced by songs of the ragtime era (Makin’ Whoopee, The Glory of Love) performed in the style of Mose Scarlett or Mose Allison and featuring extended solos by Robert Reid (guitar) and Kim Regimbal (Tenor Sax).
Recorded live at The Jazz Room in Waterloo, ON, Canada on June 9, 2024.
Written by Jack Cooper, 2006
My Medication
Turned into a fun, ska-tinged arrangement, this song was written after a first date (at a funeral) and then turned into a recording and video successfully used for a marriage proporsal.
Recorded live at The Jazz Room in Waterloo, ON, Canada on June 9, 2024
Written by Jack Cooper, 2015
Jeremy
Written as a testimony to the vital importance of music (from both childhood experience and through the perspective of a young autistic adult), this gentle ballad is adaptable to multiple musical approaches and genres. This version performed live is elevated by the brilliance of guest fiddler Ally Corbett.
Recorded live a The Jazz Room in Waterloo, ON, Canada Ju June 9, 2024.
Written by Jack Cooper, 1999
On The Border
A mid-tempo rocker influenced by John Fogerty’s approach to political songwriting- straight ahead, have your say, and don’t get fancy. Prompted by recent events in Gaza.
Recorded live at The Jazz Room in Waterloo, ON, Canada on June 9, 2024.
Written by Jack Cooper, 2023
Eyes Wide Open
An eerie R&B arrangement is bolstered by guest artist Ally Corbett with some haunting fiddle accompaniment. And some haunting facial mugging by lead guitarist Robert Reid.
Recorded live at The Jazz Room in Waterloo, ON, Canada on June 9, 2024
Written by Jack Cooper, 2000
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
This instrumental number reflects the band’s growing interest in developing a repertoire of instrumentals reflecting an eclectic variety of genres. Written by Joe Zawinul (lyrics by Gail Fisher) for Cannonball Adderley, this bluesy number soul number showcases the band’s ability to take an existing number and adapt it to the band’s approach and sensibilities. Features solos by all lead instruments plus bass.
Recorded live at The Jazz Room in Waterloo, ON, Canada on June 9, 2024.
Written by Joe Zawinul and Gail Fisher, 1966
Audio
All audio tracks listed are original Jack and the Spare Hearts numbers written by Jack Cooper
Another Boring Story—frenetic rocker serving as a put-down to suspected tellers of tall tales.
Worst Kept Secret—up-tempo R&B number reveling in the pain & pleasure of a new love kept under wraps.
Dancing Shoes—up-tempo R&B / funk number featuring trombone and tenor sax horn riffs.
Morning Girl— late-60’s-inspired up-tempo jangly pop groove.
My Spare Heart—mid-tempo R&B shuffle riffing on fate and probability.
Another Bad Dose—mid-tempo R&B reflection on current crises- fentanyl, political apathy, and untrustworthy news sources.
High Enough—sunshine pop-inspired ode about dealing with barely-concealable emotional pain.
Selfie Love—50’s early 60’s doo-wop inspired ode to finding love by swiping right.
Press Photos
All photos by Shelly Clark Design, 2024
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