Ronnie Cuber
Ronald Edward Cuber (born December 25, 1941 in New York City) is a jazz saxophonist. He has also played in Latin, pop, rock and blues sessions. In addition to his primary instrument, baritone sax, he has also played tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet and flute, the latter on an album by Eddie Palmieri as well as his own recordings. As a leader, Cuber is known for hard bop and Latin jazz. As a side man, he has played with numerous musicians, such as B. B. King, Paul Simon, and Eric Clapton.[1] Furthermore, Cuber can be heard on Freeze Frame by the J. Geils Band, and one of his most spirited performances is on Dr. Lonnie Smith's 1970 Blue Note album Drives. He was also a member of the Saturday Night Live Band.
Cuber was in Marshall Brown's Newport Youth Band in 1959, where he switched from tenor to baritone sax. His first notable work was with Slide Hampton (1962) and Maynard Ferguson (1963–1965). Then from 1966 to 1967, Cuber worked with George Benson. He was also a member of the Lee Konitz nonet from 1977 to 1979.[2] He can be heard playing in Frank Zappa's group in the mid-1970s, including the album Zappa in New York. He has been a member of the Mingus Big Band since its inception in the early 1990s. He was an off-screen musician for the movie Across the Universe.
Discography
As leader
- 1976: Cuber Libre! (Xanadu Records)
- 1978: The Eleventh Day of Aquarius (Xanadu)
- 1981: New York Jazz
- 1985: Two Brothers (AMG)
- 1985: Pin Point (PID)
- 1985: Passion Fruit (PID)
- 1986: Live at the Blue Note (ProJazz)
- 1992: Cubism (Fresh Sounds)
- 1993: The Scene is Clean (Milestone Records)
- 1994: Airplay (SteepleChase Records)
- 1996: In a New York Minute (SteepleChase Records)
- 1997: N.Y.C.ats (SteepleChase Records)
- 1998: Love for Sale (with The Netherlands Metropole Orchestra) (Koch)
- 2009: Ronnie (SteepleChase Records)
- 2011: Boplicity (SteepleChase Records)
- 2013: Live at JazzFest Berlin (SteepleChase Records) (recorded 2008)
As sideman
With Patti Austin
- End of a Rainbow (CTI, 1976)
- Havana Candy (CTI, 1977)
With George Benson
- It's Uptown (1966)
- The George Benson Cookbook (1966)
- Good King Bad (CTI, 1975)
With Maynard Ferguson
- Color Him Wild (Mainstream, 1965)
With Grant Green
- The Main Attraction (1976)
With Billy Joel
- baritone saxophone on "Easy Money", "Careless Talk", "Tell Her About It", "Keeping The Faith" on album An Innocent Man (1983)
- baritone saxophone on "Big Man on Mulberry Street" on album The Bridge (1986)
- With Lee Konitz
- Lee Konitz Nonet (Chiaroscuro, 1977)
- Yes, Yes, Nonet (SteepleChase, 1979)
- Live at Laren (Soul Note, 1979 [1984])
With Idris Muhammad
- House of the Rising Sun (1976)
- Turn This Mutha Out (1977)
With Horace Silver
- The Hardbop Grandpop (1996)
With Lonnie Smith
- Move Your Hand (1969)
- Drives (1970)
With Mickey Tucker
- Sojourn (Xanadu, 1977)
With Gerald Wilson
- Detroit (Mack Avenue, 2009)
With Rare Silk
- New Weave (1986)
With Randy Brecker
- 34th N Lex (2003)
With Dr. John
- Duke Elegant (1999)