Born on May 27, 1948 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Copland was part of the vibrant Philadelphia music scene as a saxophonist before moving to New York where he met John Abercrombie and also played with Chico Hamilton and others. He tried his hand at the electric viola but gradually became dissatisfied with the path his music was taking. He left New York and stopped playing the saxophone to study the piano. He disappeared for a decade and was a revelation when he returned to the jazz scene in the mid-1980s, his own lively, original style taking hold more firmly than ever. He played with Bob Belden, Jane Ira Bloom, Joe Lovano, Tim Hagans, James Moody, Wallace Roney and many others.
 His career as a partner was relatively short, however. Copland began recording and touring as a trio with Gary Peacock and Billy Hart.
 In the 1990s, his reputation grew with three legendary recordings on the Savoy label, which led him to the All-Star lineup (Randy Brecker, Bob Berg, and Dennis Chambers) and later to the quartet featuring John Abercrombie, Drew Gress, and drummer Hart.