It's not that jazz keyboardist Patrick Cooper (pictured) prefers living in the past, it's just that when it comes to performing jazz-funk music, Cooper believes few eras showcased free-form jazz intertwined with R&B, soul and funk music better than the 1970s.

That explains why Cooper named his current album, "The Way It Used to Be." The eight songs CD and particularly the title track has enjoyed critical acclaim since its release in...