Jazz Articles about Ronnie Cuber

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Tom Scott with Special Guest Phil Woods: Bebop United

by Michael P. Gladstone
May 11, 2006

The unblemished record of Pittsburgh's Mancheaster Craftsmen's Guild as a venue for recording jazz albums continues with the this new recording from Tom Scott with special guest Phil Woods. Scott has amassed a lengthy discography which has reflected high energy fusion, pop-soul and smooth jazz over the past two decades. His earlier years, however, found him playing strongly as a member of the Don Ellis and Oliver Nelson Big Bands.

In 1992, Scott returned to the mainstream with Born Again, ...

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Tom Scott: Bebop United

by Jim Santella
February 25, 2006

For Bebop United Tom Scott convened a a group of veterans for a straight-ahead live auditorium performance in Pittsburgh. His cohesive ensemble interprets each selection with a comfortable groove and a lot of soul. Featuring Phil Woods on three numbers, the concert brings slow ballads and up-tempo romps to its audience convincingly. Trumpeter Randy Brecker and tenor saxophonist Scott provide much of the dialogue, each bringing a warm presence to the concert.

For “His Eyes, Her Eyes, soloists ...

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Tom Scott: Bebop United

by John Kelman
February 23, 2006

He's had a multifaceted career in almost every imaginable area of jazz--not to mention working as a gun for hire on albums by singer/songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Carole King. It's easy to forget that saxophonist Tom Scott actually started out as a jazz traditionalist. While his own albums have leaned more towards fusion and contemporary jazz, the early days of his career found Scott cutting his teeth on albums by Oliver Nelson, Don Ellis and Thelonious Monk.

So when ...

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Ronnie Cuber: Cubism

by Jon Wagner
November 1, 2002

Although this date was recorded in 1990, it has only recently been released on CD. It is a solid effort. Cuber's the leader, and the date is built around his baritone sax. But the sidemen - Joe Locke on vibes, Michael Formanek on bass, Bobby Broom on guitar, Ben Perowsky on drums and special guest Carlos “Patato" Valdez on congas - all contribute inspired performances, too.

Cubism is not “smooth" jazz, but it's certainly got some smoother elements. And it's ...

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David Sanborn: Inside

by Ian Nicolson
May 1, 1999

Since the days when he left his hometown St Louis to play for the Butterfield Blues Band during the sixties Blues boom in California, Sanborn has worked hard at staying top dog among the LA studio sessioneers - and succeeded.He has also commuted effortlessly between sophisticated Jazzpop solo albums stressing his distinctive alto tone and R'n'B roots, and the occasional full-ahead Jazz outing - like 1990's Another Hand, or Upfront a year or two later. This time he's ...

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The Three Baritone Saxophone Band: Plays Mulligan

by Jim Santella
April 1, 1998

Three of today's top baritone saxophone players bring their own interpretations and their own “tool sets" to this session which pays tribute to the legendary Gerry Mulligan. Adding bass and drums, the trio combines three-part harmony with expressive solos by each member of the quintet. As leader, Ronnie Cuber takes the top melodic line much of the time, and punctuates the ensemble's phrases with deep staccato notes and brief embellished gestures. Nick Brignola fills the middle harmony role, and lends ...