Jazz Articles about Cuong Vu

Cuong Vu: More Power in a Collective

by Paul Olson
September 5, 2005

No one sounds like Cuong Vu.Other musicians play trumpet in an effects-laden, rock-inflected environment, but a Cuong Vu album is immediately recognizable. Vu's music couples his trademark airy, bucolic melodies with a deep, churning density of sound and plenty of free improvisation. I spoke with Vu about his fantastic new CD It's Mostly Residual--his first in four years and, to these ears, his best album--as well as about his working trio of longstanding bassist Stomu Takeishi and new ...

Cuong Vu: It's Mostly Residual

by John Kelman
August 14, 2005

Since relocating from Seattle in '94, trumpeter Cuong Vu has emerged as an important voice on the New York Downtown Scene. While his reputation has continued to grow with solo releases including '00's Bound and '01's Come Play With Me, his four-year relationship with jazz megastar Pat Metheny has seen his name grow familiar to an ever-expanding audience.

Vu has appeared on Pat Metheny Group's last two recordings--'02's Speaking of Now and this year's ambitious The Way Up--and two lengthy ...

Cuong Vu: Bound

by Glenn Astarita
May 1, 2000

Trumpeter/composer Cuong Vu has rapidly become one of the rising stars or perhaps bright voices within the burgeoning and thoroughly adventurous New York City “Downtown Scene" modern jazz circuit. Born in Vietnam and reared in Seattle, WA. Mr. Vu displays remarkable versatility as a musician who exhibits a true renaissance spirit, emanating from influences that span classical, pop and jazz genres. With his debut release titled Bound, Vu melds lustrous tonalities and lyrically rich lines with the often turbulent and ...