Trumpeter Vinnie Cutro & New York City Soundscape Release "Sakura"

On Sakura, his 4th album as a leader, trumpeter Vinnie Cutro presents a set of straight ahead mainstream jazz that extends the legacy of such hard-driving bands as Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and the 1950s quintets led by Horace Silver and Miles Davis.

Cutro contributes 6 originals and a haunting arrangement of the familiar traditional Japanese melody “Sakura," the CD's title track. The band--including master drummer Billy Hart and the acclaimed saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi--also delivers a suitably wistful take on the chestnut “Willow Weep For Me" and reverent interpretations of modern jazz classics by Eddie Harris and Thelonious Monk.

A New Jersey native, Cutro has established himself as a fixture on the NYC jazz scene as both a freelancer and band leader. He’s toured internationally and recorded with Silver, Buddy Rich and the Lionel Hampton Quartet and has appeared as a sideman on over 50 recordings.

With the release of Sakura this “musician's musician" should receive the recognition he clearly deserves for his vital and distinctive voice as a player and composer.

Track Listing

1. Sakura (Trad. / arr. Cutro) 6:43
2. Three for Me 7:19
3. What is This Thing? 7:07
4. Willow Weep For Me 9:08
5. Tell Tale 8:02
6. Freedom Jazz Dance 5:23
7. Blues For Roy 8:36
8. Round Midnight 8:58
9. Big Chief 5:31
10. Time Will Tell 7:03

Total Time 60:14

All compositions / arrangements by
Vinnie Cutro Copyright © 2007/ Royal
Music Ensemble Publishing (BMI) except
#4 (Ann Ronnell), #6 (Eddie Harris) &
#8 (Thelonious Monk)

Personnel

• Vinnie Cutro - Trumpet / Leader
  
• Jerry Bergonzi - Tenor Sax
  
• Billy Hart - Drums
  
• Jay Anderson - Bass
  
• Charles Blenzig - Piano
  
• Bob Ferrel - Trombone (#1, #6)
  
• Mitch Schechter - Piano (#4, #8)

Praise

“[Cutro plays]...hot,cool,sweet and tart. He follows in the footsteps of some of the greatest modern jazz trumpeters." --Philip Elwood, The San Francisco Examiner

“His forte is hard bop, his chops fashioned after Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan and his arrangements reminiscent of Horace Silver." --Owen Cordle, JazzTimes

“Hampton's most memorable soloist." --Jazz Express (UK)