Phil Cunneff (New Quartet and Trio)
Baltimore, Maryland, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"...rousing drum performance...I love his mallet technique..."
Dee Dee McNeil - Cadence - Cadence
Original compositions and interpretations of Jerome Kern, Lennon/McCartney, Tom Waits, Randy Newman, and Mal Waldron from drummer Phil Cunneff's post-modern acoustic jazz trio (trumpet/bass/drums). Hard swinging, gentle ballad-playing, deep funk, and free improvisation co-exist in this innovative group conception.
- Amazon.com
"Exits"
When you enter the jazz soundscape created by this trio your ears will think you've died and gone to heaven! The open sound of this pianoless group gives the players ample space to explore while you, the listener, get to hear each tone and timbre (so beautifully recorded by Richard Roeder) as though you were sitting in at the session yourself! This is simply great music: mostly originals, with a few gems from Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler, Eubie Blake, and more. It's rare when musicians play together on a recording date with the kind of palpable simpatico heard here. - Lexjazz.com
"Sitting in the back of the Cat’s Eye during a break from his normal Monday night gig, Cunneff talks about jazz & blues, learning it, teaching it, and what it means to live and work in Fell’s Point."
http://tiger.towson.edu/~bchris1/mcom407/index.htm - Towson University
Discography
"Onward" (with Bob Fields Septet, 1999)
"Exits" (Bacas/Cunneff/Leonard, Fells Point Jazz 1999)
"Oui Bop" (with Rick Hannah Trio, Mainstem, 2000)
"Levi" (Phil Cunneff Trio, Fells Point Jazz 2005)
Several free mp3 downloads are available at http://www.fellspointjazz.com
"Money Don't Hurt" (with Dr. Steve Kraemer and the Bluesicians, Moonlyte, 2008)
"Encore Oui Bop" (with Rick Hannah Trio, Mainstem, 2008)
"The Beatle Project" (with Rick Hannah Trio, Mainstem, 2009)
"Detour Ahead" (with Steve Abshire/Paul Wingo, Patuxent Music 2011)
"New Quartet - Live at the Cat's Eye" (in production 2011)
Photos
Bio
His music's influences range from Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, and Charles Mingus to Bob Dylan and Tom Waits. Due to its unique instrumentation and repertoire, his groups are at home performing in non-traditional jazz venues from rock clubs to coffeehouses, as well as jazz clubs. The musicians' extensive vocabulary brings together many jazz styles into a single comprehensive language. This is improvised music at its best and most eclectic.
The group performs as The Phil Cunneff New Quartet (drums and cymbals, bass, trumpet/cornet/flügelhorn, bass clarinet/clarinet) or as the Phil Cunneff Trio (drums and cymbals, bass, trumpet/cornet/flügelhorn, or bass clarinet/clarinet or tenor/alto saxophone)
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