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Giuseppe Cucchiara

Italy born-and-raised and NYC-based upright bassist and composer Giuseppe Cucchiara grew up immersed among countless jazz vinyls and dynamic musical inputs from the earliest age. His father, who happens to be a classical upright bass player, laid the path for him to approach various instruments during his childhood until 2010, when at the age of 16 Giuseppe eventually picked up the bass to never let it go. During his teenage years, he crossed paths with highly praised Italian jazz drummer Stefano Bagnoli, with whom he toured around as a sideman for “We Kids” Trio, and recorded four albums for some major Italian jazz record companies, namely Ultrasound Records, Abeat Records and Jazzit Records

In 2015, he was granted a meritorial scholarship at the prestigious Berklee College Of Music, leading him to move to Boston to further develop his skills and establish himself on the US scene. At Berklee, Giuseppe had the privilege to study with highly praised jazz musicians and mentors, primarily Hal Crook, Danilo Perez, George Garzone, Joe Lovano, Ben Street, John Patitucci, and Terence Blanchard.



In 2017, Giuseppe toured in Italy as a band leader after recording his first album, "Cookin’ Hot," featuring the trusted Stefano Bagnoli on drums and the internationally acclaimed Dado Moroni on piano. The album led Giuseppe to earn a coveted spot in the widely reputable Italian Jazz Dictionary edited by Feltrinelli. In the same year, he proudly earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance at Berklee, and right after that, he decided to move to New York City to bring his musical career a step forward.

Upon his arrival in the Big Apple, Giuseppe was invited to play at the Jazz Gallery for jazz piano legend Kenny Barron in celebration of his 75th birthday. However, the turning point for his artistic development was the opportunity to start a close relationship with Ron Carter, a worldwide acclaimed musician, multi-Grammy Award winner, and the most recorded jazz bassist in history, who mentored him closely for over four years to date.



After moving to New York City, Giuseppe had the opportunity to share the stage with Rodney Green, Johnny O’Neal, Luis Perdomo, Kevin Hays, Jeb Patton, Harry Allen, Erena Terakubo, Bill Pierce, Adam Birnbaum, Ben Solomon, Daniele Germani,Eviatar Slivnik, Davis Whitfield, Michael Wang, Residente, Benito Gonzalez, Neal Smith, Darren Barrett, Dado Moroni, Leo Genovese, Saul Rubin, Anthony Pinciotti, Joe Farnsworth, Anthony Wonsey, Sarah McKenzie, Dan Wilson, Troy Roberts, Billy Mintz, Michael Kanan, Keith Brown, Steve Ash, Charles Gould, Kush Abadey, Adam Arruda.

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10

Album Review

Francesco Patti, Andrea Domenici, Giuseppe Cucchiara, Andrea Niccolai: A Sound in Common

Read "A Sound in Common" reviewed by Neil Duggan


Album titles can sometimes be mystifying, enigmatic, strange, or in this case, perfectly apt. A Sound In Common links four Italian musicians who share a passion for composing and playing their own brand of swinging contemporary jazz, springing from roots firmly planted in grounded post-bop language. This album, featuring mainly original tunes, is their first as a group. They all have strong backgrounds both in Italy and the US. Saxophonist Francesco Patti is a winner of several international ...

13

Album Review

Daniele Germani: A Congregation of Folks

Read "A Congregation of Folks" reviewed by Troy Dostert


Ambition is not in short supply for up-and-coming alto saxophonist Daniele Germani. Back in 2019, the Berklee College of Music alumnus committed himself to writing a song a day, and ten are featured here on his debut disc, A Congregation of Folks. Nor are they easy-come, easy-go compositions; there is an innate restlessness in Germani's muse, leading to pieces which ebb and flow with a surging intensity. While Germani is no stranger to other musicians' projects, his own record is ...

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  • “This is an album that swings when it wants to, gets melancholy when it needs to, and is joyful when you want it to. In other words, it covers all aspects of your soul.” – Craig Byrd, Cultural Attaché

  • “He displays a gift for both Blue Note-summoning hard bop and soulful balladeering.” – Andrew Forell, Dusted Magazine

  • "Mr. Cucchiara has an excellent command of the instrument as well as a fine innate sense of musicality." – Ron Carter

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

A Sound in Common

GleAM Records
2023

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A Congregation of...

GleAM Records
2021

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Bone of the Wang...

Outside in Music
2019

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Groove Wang

From: Bone of the Wang Volume 1
By Giuseppe Cucchiara

Dream of Flying

From: Bone of the Wang Volume 1
By Giuseppe Cucchiara

Flowers at a Funeral

From: Bone of the Wang Volume 1
By Giuseppe Cucchiara

Honest Feelings

From: Bone of the Wang Volume 1
By Giuseppe Cucchiara

Legend of the Falcon

From: Bone of the Wang Volume 1
By Giuseppe Cucchiara

Anthropology

From: Bone of the Wang Volume 1
By Giuseppe Cucchiara

Man's Best Friend

From: Bone of the Wang Volume 1
By Giuseppe Cucchiara

Toronto Adventures

From: Bone of the Wang Volume 1
By Giuseppe Cucchiara

September 27th

From: Bone of the Wang Volume 1
By Giuseppe Cucchiara

Bone of the Wang Volume 1

From: Bone of the Wang Volume 1
By Giuseppe Cucchiara

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