RONNIE CUBER –

Legendary baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber passed away last year on October 7 at age 80. A memorial service is held at Saint Peter’s Church in Manhattan, New York City on October 16.

Spearheading the Latin movement with Eddie Palmieri? Playing on Paul Simon’s Graceland? With Aretha Franklin, Dr. John, Eric Clapton, Frank Zappa? Epitomizing jazz funk with George Benson and Lonnie Smith? Setting the standard of slick groove stuff with The Gadd Gang? Whodunnit? Ronnie Cuber did all of this, and then some.

First and foremost, Cuber was one of the greatest jazz players on the baritone saxophone. Hard bopper with a huge gritty sound, Brooklynite that worked his way up from Marshall Brown’s Newport Youth Band to a career that found him working with Slide Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, Barry Harris, Lee Konitz, Randy Brecker, Horace Silver, Joey DeFrancesco, Rein de Graaff, Gary Smulyan and many others. Not to mention, Cuber played mean tenor, soprano, clarinet and flute and composed lasting songs as Arroz Con Pollo.

His last appearance on a record release, Center Stage, a cooperation with the WDR Big Band, Eddie Gomez and Steve Gadd, was nominated at the Grammy Awards for Best Large Jazz Ensemble in 2022.

The service, featuring many musicians that Cuber played with, is organized by Roberta Arnold, Jazz Foundation Of America and Saint Peter’s Church. Live streaming here. Find tickets below.