Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jim Cutler: Gimme Some Sugar. Baby!

5

Jim Cutler: Gimme Some Sugar. Baby!

By

View read count
Jim Cutler: Gimme Some Sugar. Baby!
The music on Seattle-based saxophonist Jim Cutler's second big-band album is thematic; that is to say, it was written with people, places or experiences in mind. Half of the album's ten engaging essays were written by trumpeter Daniel Barry, four by Cutler and one ("Visions at the Monkey Bar") by baritone saxophonist James DeJoie who has his own tour de force, Barry's presumably Sauter-Finegan inspired "Spirit World."

The shuffling opener, "Bella's Boogie," was penned by Cutler for his second daughter, Annabella, the funky "Gimme Some Sugar, Baby!" for his wife, Stephanie. The easy-flowing "Thumper," Cutler writes, was composed for "every bassist I have ever played with who grew tired of up-tempo, bebop-inspired renditions of jazz standards that are played at nearly every jam session" (this laid-back walker features bassist Philip Demaree), while the robust finale, "Rush to Delivery," he discloses, was inspired by "the often piercing, high brass of the [Stan] Kenton band . . ." Aside from "Spirit World," Barry's congenial compositions salute a Peruvian river ("The Mighty Urubamba"), a fertility dance using the waltz-like Afro-Peruvian Lando rhythm ("La Folia Lando") and the patron saint of musicians ("St Cecilia's Day"). He also wrote the impassioned "Cry Out Loud," which dates from 2003, when the U.S. preparing to go to war, as "a reflection of one person's struggle to make sense out of the decision to pursue a course of action leading to bloodshed."

DeJoie, outstanding on "Spirit World," is one of a number of soloists whose pivotal contributions should not be overlooked, even though none of them is named. While it can be plausibly surmised that Cutler handles the alto solos, the trumpet solos may or may not be Barry's. Be that as it may, suffice to say the various improvisations are in capable hands. Pianist Gregg Robinson designs a charming introduction to "Thumper," guitarist Dennis Rea has his say on "Cry Out Loud" and drummer Garey Williams enlivens "Monkey Bar" before DeJoie reappears to deliver another muscular solo. Notwithstanding the provenance of its assorted components, Gimme Some Sugar, Baby! is in essence contemporary big-band jazz of the highest order, splendidly written by Cutler, Barry and DeJoie and unerringly performed by Cutler's first-class ensemble. Thumbs up.

Track Listing

Bella’s Boogie; The Mighty Urubamba; St. Cecilia’s Day; Gimme Some Sugar, Baby!; Spirit World; La Folia Lando; Cry Out Loud; Thumper; Visions at the Monkey Bar; Rush to Delivery.

Personnel

Jim Cutler
saxophone

Jim Cutler: leader, alto sax, flute; Mike Mines: trumpet; Pete Kirkman: trumpet; Al Keith: trumpet; Daniel Barry: trumpet; Randy Burgeson: trumpet (7); Gordon Brown: alto sax; Mike West: tenor sax; Paul Gillespie: tenor sax; James DeJoie: baritone sax, flute; Chris Amemiya: trombone; Steve Kirk: trombone; Kress Fransen: trombone; Bill Park: bass trombone; Gregg Robinson: piano; Dennis Rea: guitar; Philip Demaree: bass; Garey Williams: drums; Ernesto Pedianco: percussion.

Album information

Title: Gimme Some Sugar. Baby! | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Jamco Music

Tags

Comments


PREVIOUS / NEXT




Support All About Jazz

Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Tramonto
John Taylor
Ki
Natsuki Tamura / Satoko Fujii
Duality Pt: 02
Dom Franks' Strayhorn
The Sound of Raspberry
Tatsuya Yoshida / Martín Escalante

Popular

Old Home/New Home
The Brian Martin Big Band
My Ideal
Sam Dillon
Ecliptic
Shifa شفاء - Rachel Musson, Pat Thomas, Mark Sanders
Lado B Brazilian Project 2
Catina DeLuna & Otmaro Ruíz

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.

Install All About Jazz

iOS Instructions:

To install this app, follow these steps:

All About Jazz would like to send you notifications

Notifications include timely alerts to content of interest, such as articles, reviews, new features, and more. These can be configured in Settings.