Vinnie Cutro Quintet

Vinnie Cutro & New York City Soundscape (SAKURA CD)
Royal Music Ensembles 72307; 60:14 review by John Ephland

Three and 1/2 STARS : is full of talented players hitting on 10 tunes,six written by trumpeter Cutro.Featuring tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi and drummer Billy Hart, this quintet/sometimes sextet with trombonist Bob Ferrel reflects the focus and expertise that Cutro's fierce and yet elequent horn exudes.Straightahead in character,Sakura is Cutro's fourth album as a leader,with straightahead approaches to "Freedom Jazz Dance","Round Midnight" and "Willow Weep for Me" nestled in with Cutro"s material that makes this group sound like a band. - DOWNBEAT JAZZ MAGAZINE

Vinnie Cutro & New York City Soudscape "SAKURA"(Royal Music Ensembles) by George Kanzler

"Blues For Roy" probably isn't for Roy Eldridge, but it should be.Vinnie Cutro,like the legendary "Little Jazz" is a fearless trumpet player willing to take risks and put it all on the line in his daring improvisations,pushing the limits of his technique and imagination. His solo on the galloping "Blues For Roy" akin to the fast jump tempos Eldridge devoured, is a case in point as he flashes out skeins of notes,clean articulated across registers from high to low and back with brio. And for bravura open-trumpet balladry,his compelling embrace of "Willow Weep For Me" recalls the lyrical artistry of Clifford Brown.
But is much more than a showcase for Cutro's trumpet: it's a fully realized sextet album (quartet on the two ballard standards) advancing the basic hard bop ensemble idea into new territory on the leader's original compositions and/or arrangements Contributing immensely to the exhilerating drive of the proceedings is master drummer Billy Hart,who adds layers of cross-rhythms and polyrhythms to stir things up. His broken beats and quirky accents invigorate the solo sections of Cutro's "Three For Me",making it so much more than just another jazz waltz,and his high-stepping match beat on "Big Chief" raises the concept to new high.
The other musicians respond to the rhythmic provications and Cutro's high flying solo example,rising to the occasion with expansive solos. Tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi has rarly sounded better or more involved: Pianist Charles Blenzig maintains the high energy level of the horns: and trombonist Bob Ferrel pulls out all the stops in his two solos,true three -ring circuses of trombone virtuosity. GEORGE KANZLER - JAZZTIMES JAZZ MAGAZINE

VINNIE CUTRO & NEW YORK CITY SOUNDSCAPE "SAKURA" CD Linda Yohn, Music Director WEMU / Ypsilanti, MI ........an excellent disc!" - WEMU / Ypsilanti, MI

"RADIO VINNIE CUTRO & NEW YORK CITY SOUNDSCAPE "SAKURA" CD Bill Barton, Host Bright Moments KBCS Bellevue-Seattle 91.3 FM "This is one hell of a good CD! It's one of two new discs by cats I'd never heard of before that really impressed me." - Bill Barton, Host Bright Moments KBCS Bellevue-Seattle 91.3 FM

VINNIE CUTRO & NEW YORK CITY SOUNDSCAPE "SAKURA" CD Forrest Dylan Bryant Freelance Writer : KZSU 90.1 FM.......Stanford, CA :: jazzobserver.com "Cutro brews up a heady post-bop mixture on 'Sakura.' His adrenaline-laced original tunes have great presence, grabbing you by the collar and demanding attention. His treatments of standards are fresh and incisive. This is a bold disc, and it's a winner." - - Forrest Dylan Bryant Freelance Writer : KZSU 90.1 FM.......Stanford, CA

VINNIE CUTRO & NEW YORK CITY SOUNDSCAPE "SAKURA" CD Michael Harrison WRTI ......... Philadelphia. "SAKURA" Title Track............." I like the track a lot. It's a slammin piece. " - - Michael Harrison WRTI ......... Philadelphia.

"RADIO FEEDBACK" ***************** VINNIE CUTRO & NEW YORK CITY SOUNDSCAPE "SAKURA" CD Arturo Gómez Music Director, jazz89 KUVO The Oasis In The City Colorado's First HD FM Radio Station Celebrating 14 Years of Live Performances! "Good music is easy to play, my pal at my former station, WDNA told me that he liked it and we have compatible tastes' - Arturo Gómez Music Director, jazz89 KUVO The Oasis In The City Colorado's First HD FM Radio Station

VINNIE CUTRO & NEW YORK CITY SOUNDSCAPE "SAKURA" CD WMEB's -- Keagan Rae "Excellent stuff on the album, I loved it. I can definitely tell you that Mr Cutro's CD will get some spin time. " - MEB's -- Keagan Rae

VINNIE CUTRO & NEW YORK CITY SOUNDSCAPE "SAKURA" CD Kimberly Linzy Assistant Operations Manager/Music Director KUNV 91.5 "It is a great release and you have our support!!" - Kimberly Linzy Assistant Operations Manager/Music Director KUNV 91.5

VINNIE CUTRO & NEW YORK CITY SOUNDSCAPE "SAKURA" CD Tom the Jazzman WTEB-WKNS-WBJD WZNB - Greenville - 88.1 "It is a very good CD.. All the best..Tom" - om the Jazzman WTEB-WKNS-WBJD WZNB - Greenville - 88.1

KSJS, San Jose Mike Schwartz That cat can play, and the band is crazy! - KSJS, San Jose Mike Schwartz

VINNIE CUTRO & NEW YORK CITY SOUNDSCAPE "SAKURA" CD 1/3/09 KZSU Music Stanford, CA MODERN JAZZ – Acid-toned trumpeter Cutro and friends brew up a heady post-bop mixture here. The five original tunes have great presence and demand attention, while the treatments of standards are fresh and incisive. This is a bold mainstream disc, and it's a winner. - KZSU Music Stanford, CA MODERN JAZZ

RADIO INTERVIEW 4/15/09
8:00 am Terry MacDonald Host of Jazz Straightahead WSCA, Portsmouth, NH - - Terry MacDonald Host of Jazz Straightahead WSCA, Portsmouth, NH