Ronnie Cuber Quartet

An invitation to the ’Battle of the Big Horns’ – a baritone summit featuring Nick Brignola, Cecil Payne and himself– brought Ronnie Cuber to Berlin and put him on the JazzFest roster back in 1985.

Operating mostly in 60’s modernism, Latin and soul jazz, the versatile musician undertakes frequent excursions into blues, rock and pop. Cuber has played with the likes of Slide Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, George Benson, Lee Konitz and Frank Zappa, he was a regular guest musician with Steely Dan, bestowed his lusty tone on pop stars such as Chaka Kahn, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Carli Simon, Billy Joel or the J.Geils Band and blues heroes like B.B. King or John Mayall. His contribution to Eddie Palmieri’s Album Sun Of Latin Music (1973) is considered a milestone of Latin jazz.

Born in NYC and still living there, Cuber started with tenor, but changed to the bulky baritone sax in the 50’s already. He handles his main instrument with alluring effortlessness, but his soprano and flute skills are much in demand as well. On top of that he made his mark as an arranger for the Mingus Big Band. No matter what he tackles and which stylistic arena he enters – all ventures are being improved by his irresistible sense of swing.