Ronald Edward Cuber (December 25, 1941 – October 7, 2022) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

saxophonist. He also played in Latin, pop, rock, and blues sessions. In addition to his primary instrument, baritone sax, he played tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet, and flute, the latter on an album by

Eddie Palmieri Eddie Palmieri (born December 15, 1936) is an American Grammy Award-winning pianist, bandleader, musician, and composer of Puerto Rican ancestry. He is the founder of the bands La Perfecta, La Perfecta II, and Harlem River Drive. Early life Pal ...

as well as on his own recordings. As a leader, Cuber was known for

hard bop Hard bop is a subgenre of jazz that is an extension of bebop (or "bop") music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz that incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospe ...

and

Latin jazz Latin jazz is a genre of jazz with Latin American rhythms. The two main categories are Afro-Cuban jazz, rhythmically based on Cuban popular dance music, with a rhythm section employing ostinato patterns or a clave, and Afro-Brazilian jazz, whic ...

. As a side man, he had played with B. B. King,

Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor whose career has spanned six decades. He is one of the most acclaimed songwriters in popular music, both as a solo artist and as half of folk roc ...

, and

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is often regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s list of ...

. Cuber can be heard on '' Freeze Frame'' by

the J. Geils Band The J. Geils Band was an American rock band formed in 1967, in Worcester, Massachusetts, under the leadership of guitarist John "J." Geils. The original band members included vocalist Peter Wolf, harmonica and saxophone player Richard "Magic ...

, and one of his most spirited performances is on

Dr. Lonnie Smith Lonnie Smith (July 3, 1942 – September 28, 2021), styled Dr. Lonnie Smith, was an American jazz Hammond B3 organist who was a member of the George Benson quartet in the 1960s. He recorded albums with saxophonist Lou Donaldson for Blue Note be ...

's 1970 Blue Note album ''Drives''. He was also a member of the

Saturday Night Live Band The Saturday Night Live Band (referred to in the closing credits as The Live Band) is the house band of the NBC television program '' Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL''). Role on ''Saturday Night Live'' The band consists of mostly jazz, R&B, a ...

. 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 Locksley Wellington Hampton (April 21, 1932 – November 18, 2021) was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. As his nickname implies, Hampton's main instrument was slide trombone, but he also occasionally played tuba and flugelho ...

(1962) and

Maynard Ferguson Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often served ...

(1963–1965). Then from 1966 to 1967, Cuber worked with

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, pla ...

. He was also a member of the Lee Konitz nonet from 1977 to 1979. Cuber can be heard playing in

Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American musician, composer, and bandleader. His work is characterized by wikt:nonconformity, nonconformity, Free improvisation, free-form improvisation, sound experimen ...

's group in the mid-1970s, including the album ''

Zappa in New York ''Zappa in New York'' is a double live album by Frank Zappa released on his own DiscReet Records label. It was recorded in December 1976 at a series of concerts at the Palladium in New York City. The album was scheduled for release in mid 1977 b ...

''. He was a member of the

Mingus Big Band The Mingus Big Band is a 14-piece ensemble, based in New York City, that specializes in the compositions of Charles Mingus. It was managed by his widow, Sue Mingus, along with the Mingus Orchestra and Mingus Dynasty. In addition to its weekly Monda ...

from its inception in the early 1990 until his death. He was an off-screen musician for the movie '' Across the Universe''. Cuber died on October 7, 2022, at the age of 80.

Discography

As leader

* 1976: ''Cuber Libre!'' ( Xanadu) * 1978: '' The Eleventh Day of Aquarius'' (Xanadu) * 1981: ''New York Jazz'' * 1985: ''Two Brothers'' (AMG) * 1985: ''Passion Fruit'' (Electric Bird/PID) * 1986: ''Pin Point'' (Electric Bird/PID) * 1986: ''Live at the Blue Note'' (ProJazz) * 1992: ''Cubism'' (

Fresh Sound Fresh Sound, or Fresh Sound New Talent, is a jazz record label established in Barcelona, Spain, by Jordi Pujol. The label was initially founded as a reissue label. The catalog includes work by musicians both major and minor that was recorded be ...

) * 1993: ''The Scene Is Clean'' (

Milestone A milestone is a numbered marker placed on a route such as a road, railway line, canal or boundary. They can indicate the distance to towns, cities, and other places or landmarks; or they can give their position on the route relative to so ...

) * 1994: ''Airplay'' ( SteepleChase) * 1996: ''In a New York Minute'' (SteepleChase) * 1997: ''N.Y.C.ats'' (SteepleChase) * 1998: ''Love for Sale'' (with the Netherlands Metropole Orchestra) ( Koch) * 2009: ''Ronnie'' (SteepleChase) * 2011: ''Boplicity'' (SteepleChase) * 2013: ''Live at JazzFest Berlin'' (SteepleChase) recorded 2008 * 2018 ''Ronnie's Trio'' (SteepleChase) * 2019 ''Four'' (SteepleChase)

As sideman

With

Patti Austin Patti Austin (born August 10, 1950) is an American R&B, pop, and jazz singer and songwriter. Music career Austin was born in Harlem, New York, to Gordon Austin, a jazz trombonist. She was raised in Bay Shore, New York on Long Island. Quincy ...

* '' End of a Rainbow'' (CTI, 1976) * ''

Havana Candy ''Havana Candy'' is the second album by American vocalist and songwriter Patti Austin recorded in 1977 and released on the CTI label.Payne, DCTI Records discographyaccessed February 29, 2012 Reception The Allmusic review stated "Austin sang this ...

'' (CTI, 1977) With

* ''

It's Uptown ''It's Uptown'' is the second studio album by jazz/soul guitarist George Benson. Background George Benson's second album and the first of two to be produced by John Hammond. Recorded after his move to CBS. Track listing 2007 remastered CD / B ...

'' (1966) * ''

The George Benson Cookbook ''The George Benson Cookbook'' is the third studio album by jazz/soul guitarist George Benson, and the second to be produced by John Hammond. Background The Hard Bop Homepage says of the album, "This is basically the George Benson quartet, wi ...

'' (1966) * ''

Good King Bad ''Good King Bad'' is the thirteenth studio album by American guitarist George Benson featuring performances recorded in 1975 and released by CTI Records in 1976.Payne, DCTI Records discographyaccessed February 24, 2012 Reception The Allmusic revi ...

'' (CTI, 1975) With

Nick Brignola Nicholas Thomas "Nick" Brignola (July 17, 1936 – February 8, 2002) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist. Biography Brignola was born on July 17, 1936 in Troy, New York. He was born into a musical family in which his father played the tu ...

* ''

Burn Brigade ''Burn Brigade'' is an album by baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola which was recorded in 1979 and released on the Bee Hive label.Maynard Ferguson Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often served ...

* '' The New Sounds of Maynard Ferguson'' (Cameo, 1963) * ''

Come Blow Your Horn ''Come Blow Your Horn'' is Neil Simon's first play, which premiered on Broadway in 1961 and had a London production in 1962 at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Simon rewrote the script more than two dozen times over several years, resulting in a hit ...

'' (Cameo, 1963) * '' Color Him Wild'' (Mainstream, 1965) With

David Clayton-Thomas David Clayton-Thomas (born David Henry Thomsett, 13 September 1941) is a Grammy Award-winning Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the American band Blood, Sweat & Tears. Clayton-Thomas has been inducte ...

* ''David Clayton-Thomas'' (1972) With

The Gadd Gang ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

* ''

'' (Columbia, 1986) * '' Here & Now'' (Columbia, 1988) * ''

Live at the Bottom Line ''Live at the Bottom Line'' is a live album by American vocalist and songwriter Patti Austin recorded in 1978 and released on the CTI label.Payne, DCTI Records discographyaccessed February 29, 2012 Reception The Allmusic review states, "There' ...

'' (A Touch 1994) With

Grant Green Grant Green (June 6, 1935 – January 31, 1979) was an American jazz guitarist and composer. Recording prolifically for Blue Note Records as both leader and sideman, Green performed in the hard bop, soul jazz, bebop, and Latin-tinged idioms ...

* '' The Main Attraction'' (1976) With

Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, pianist and songwriter. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man (song), Piano Man" after his album and signature song of the same name, he has led a commercially successful career as a solo ...

* ''

An Innocent Man ''An Innocent Man'' is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on August 8, 1983. The concept album is a tribute to the American popular music of Joel's adolescent years with Joel paying homage to a number of ...

'' (1983) * '' The Bridge'' (1986) With Sam Jones * '' Something New'' (Interplay, 1979) With Lee Konitz * '' Lee Konitz Nonet'' (Chiaroscuro, 1977) * ''

Yes, Yes, Nonet ''Yes, Yes, Nonet'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Lee Konitz's Nonet recorded in 1979 and released on the Danish SteepleChase label.Live at Laren'' (Soul Note, 1979

984 Year 984 ( CMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Spring – German boy-king Otto III (4-years old) is seized by the deposed Henry II ...

With

Jimmy McGriff James Harrell McGriff (April 3, 1936 – May 24, 2008) was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader. Biography Early years and influences Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, United States, McGriff started playing pi ...

* '' Feelin' It'' (Milestone, 2001) * ''

McGriff Avenue ''McGriff Avenue'' is an album by organist Jimmy McGriff recorded in 2001 and released on the Milestone Records, Milestone label the following year.

'' (Milestone, 2002) With Idris Muhammad * ''

House of the Rising Sun A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

'' (1976) * '' Turn This Mutha Out'' (1977) With

Horace Silver Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silver (September 2, 1928 – June 18, 2014) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, particularly in the hard bop style that he helped pioneer in the 1950s. After playing tenor saxophone and piano at sch ...

* ''

The Hardbop Grandpop ''The Hardbop Grandpop'' is an album by jazz pianist Horace Silver released on the Impulse! Records, Impulse! label in 1996 featuring performances by Silver with Claudio Roditi, Steve Turre, Michael Brecker, Ronnie Cuber, Ron Carter, and Lewis Na ...

'' (1996) With Lonnie Smith * '' Move Your Hand'' (Blue Note, 1969) * '' Drives'' (Blue Note, 1970) * '' Live at Club Mozambique'' (Blue Note, 1970; released 1995) With

Mickey Tucker Mickey Tucker (born Michael B. Tucker; April 28, 1941) is an American jazz pianist and organist. Biography Tucker was born in Durham, North Carolina in 1941. He grew up in Rankin, Pennsylvania before moving back to North Carolina aged 12. When h ...

* '' Sojourn'' (Xanadu, 1977) With

Gerald Wilson Gerald Stanley Wilson (September 4, 1918 – September 8, 2014) was an American jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Mississippi, he was based in Los Angeles from the early 1940s. In addition to being a ...

* ''

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

'' (Mack Avenue, 2009) With

Rare Silk Rare Silk was an American vocal jazz group that was active during the 1980s. MaryLynn Gillaspie and her sister, Gaile, grew up in southern California. Their father played trumpet, and from an early age they heard big band music and Ella Fitzgeral ...

* ''New Weave'' (1986) With

Randy Brecker Randal Edward Brecker (born November 27, 1945) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock, and R&B. Early life Brecker was born on Nov ...

* ''34th N Lex'' (2003) With

Dr. John Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019), better known by his stage name Dr. John, was an American singer and songwriter. His music encompassed New Orleans blues, jazz, funk, and R&B. Active as a session musician from ...

* '' Duke Elegant'' (1999) With

* ''

Graceland Graceland is a mansion on a estate in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, which was once owned by rock and roll icon Elvis Presley. His daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, inherited Graceland after his death in 1977. Graceland is located at 3764 Elv ...

'' (1986) With Tom Scott * ''Bebop United'' (2006) With

* ''

Harlem River Drive The Harlem River Drive is a 4.20-mile (6.76 km) long north–south limited-access parkway in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It runs along the west bank of the Harlem River from the Triborough Bridge in East Harlem to 10th Avenue ...

'' (Roulette, 1971) * '' Vamonos Pa'l Monte'' (Tico, 1971) * '' Live at Sing Sing Vol. 1 & 2'' (Tico, 1972) * '' The Sun of Latin Music'' (Coco Records, 1975) * '' Unfinished Masterpiece'' (Coco Records, 1976) * '' Lucumí, Macumba, Voodoo'' (Epic, 1978) * '' Wisdom/Sabiduria'' (Ropeadope Records, 2017)

References

External links

A site with information on all the great Jazz Baritone Saxophonists and vintage horns
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cuber, Ronnie 1941 births 2022 deaths Hard bop saxophonists Jazz baritone saxophonists American jazz baritone saxophonists American jazz tenor saxophonists American male saxophonists American jazz soprano saxophonists American jazz flautists Musicians from New York City Xanadu Records artists SteepleChase Records artists Milestone Records artists Jazz musicians from New York (state) 21st-century American saxophonists American male jazz musicians White Elephant Orchestra members Mingus Big Band members 21st-century American male musicians MNRK Music Group artists 21st-century flautists