Chris Coogan is a multi-talented entertainer who, as a composer, performer, teacher, choir director and producer, is rooted in the jazz and gospel traditions. Coogan performs original and traditional music as a pianist and singer, as the leader of a jazz group, and as director of the Good News Gospel Choir. In addition, he teaches jazz piano and leads gospel workshops throughout the country to help reinvigorate church and community choirs.

Coogan as Jazz Musician

For 10 years, Coogan has lead the Chris Coogan Quartet, a combo whose repertoire includes strait-ahead jazz, fusion jazz and boogie-woogie. S'Funky, Coogan's first jazz album containing his original songs, was released in 1995 and re-released in 1999. It features the song Cranberry Isle which took the top jazz prize in the 1997 John Lennon Songwriting Competition.

Coogan's credits as a jazz musician include music director for the jazz guitarist, Sal Salvador.  Has played with: Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, Lou Soloff, Jimmy Vivino, Harold Danko, Ronnie Spector, James Naughton, Phoebe Snow, Jose Feliciano,  Bette Midler, Donna Summer, Will Lee, Shawn Pelton, Vanees Thomas, Rob Mathes, Kristen Chenoweth, Joe Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult, accompanied singers from Chicago and Phantom of the Night, as well as jazz arranging for Teo Maceo, (producer for the late Miles Davis).  
 
He appeared on television's Celebrity Jeopardy and the Arsenio Hall Show and has performed at Manhattan's Blue Note and the Montreaux Jazz Festival.   He has written and performed original Gospel music for PBS on prime time television in a documentary on the evangelist, Amy Semple Mcferson with acclaimed emmy winning composer, Brian Keane.
 
He has performed locally at parties for Martha Stewart, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward and been asked to perform for President Bill and Hillary Clinton.  He is the director of the Good News Gospel Choir, performing locally at many area churches and festivals.

Coogan as Gospel Musician

Coogan also leads a successful career as a choral director; as well as a writer and arranger of gospel music. He weaves jazz black gospel and white choral music into a new brand of music that engages a broad, cross-cultural audience.

In 1993, he founded the good News Gospel Choir with 15 members. Today, this 50-voice, multi-denominational singing group performs nearly every weekend at churches, festivals, fundraisers and various community events throughout the state of Connecticut. The group has released two albums, 1997's Joy, Unspeakable Joy and most recently, Light a Candle.

Through a choral workshops, Coogan has begun to help reinvigorate church and community choirs by teaching directors and members the vocal techniques and gesture that accompany Gospel music. These workshops have been offered throughout California and in Sydney, Australia and will be offered to churches throughout the country in Spring, 2001.

His Gospel credentials include performing with Take 6, Al Sharpton, and Richard Smallwood.

I see myself as a catalyst who uses the medium of music to bring people together" Coogan said. "It's my passion to help people find joy in making music and singing from their souls".