Rick Cutler: Journal

Transmitting From NYC...
Happy New Year!! It's been way too long since I updated here but better late than never, I guess. The biggest news is that, as of yesterday, CD#3 is complete!! Recorded, mixed & mastered...DONE!! I recorded 26 pieces in all out of which 19 will make it onto the final CD. I'm extremely pleased with the results & hope that you might check it out. At this point, I'm thinking it'll be out in the late spring/early summer. Now I move on to deciding on the cover art, layout & design. My amazing 17 year old stepdaughter Charlotte, who's a great artist, has already created a beautiful idea for the cover that's about 99.9% of what I envisioned so we're off & running.
In December I was on drums in Lee Musiker's trio along with the NY Philharmonic Principal Brass Quintet at Avery Fisher Hall for their annual Holiday Brass concert. This was the 2nd consecutive year that they asked the trio to guest with them &, once again, we had a great time. Lee is just an amazing musician & it's always so inspiring to play with & listen to him.
I'm still waiting for word on the release of guitarist Paul Metzke's CD that I worked on last year. I've sung Paul's praises here before so I won't repeat myself. Suffice to say, he's a great guitarist & I'm a lucky guy to be playing with someone who's worked with both Tony Williams & Elvin Jones & enjoys my playing enough to have me in his regular trio.
There are a couple of other projects in the pipeline which I'll report on when they bear some fruit. And, of course, I'll keep you posted on news as the new CD gets closer to release. Till then...

Transmitting From NYC...
I'm happy to report that the recording of CD#3 is complete! We're now in the mixing stage & I recently had a brainstorm about the cover art & layout which, if it turns out the way I'm envisioning it, should be really cool.
I recorded 26 pieces as planned which translates to about 1 hour & 40 minutes of music...way longer than I'd anticipated. Now I have to decide what to release next year & what to save for CD#4. I suppose another option is to let the extra pieces come out in drips & drabs or as an EP. We'll see...
I've been posting photos of the process on the Facebook page & will try to get them up here as well. As things continue to move along, I'll keep you posted. Till then...

Transmitting From NYC...
Well, I'm about 1/2-way through the recording of CD#3 & it's going really well. The piano sounds beautiful thanks to the expertise of my engineer, Larry Gates & I'm really pleased with the pace I've set for completing each piece. Hopefully the recording process will be done in 2 more sessions. Then onto mixing, mastering, cover art & design, etc., etc. It'll surely be available sometime in 2013. Till then, if you don't all-ready, check out my Facebook updates as I tend to put photos up there as well. In fact, if you enjoy my music, be my Facebook friend! I rarely say no to any requests. You can also "like" my "band" page. More coming soon...

Transmitting from NYC…
Just booked the first recording sessions for CD#3. It all begins in mid September.
I'll be using the great engineer Larry Gates once again and I can't wait to hear how these 26 new pieces sound with the benefit of his expertise. I'll surely keep you posted so stay tuned.

Transmitting From NYC...
Greetings...it's been awhile!! Just thought I'd check in with some updated news:
The CD I mentioned with Keith Loving, my old buddy from the Gregory Hines Band, was released about a month or so ago. I'm on drums for about half of it & keyboards for 1 tune. It's called, "Family Portrait" & I'd guess it'd be available at the usual internet indie sites. No further news about the album with Paul Metzke. Haven't spoken with him for awhile but I hope he's been spending his time doing some overdubs, editing & mixing. He's such a great guitarist, I'll be proud to have my name on that CD when it's released. And speaking of great guitarists, I'm in the process of starting a trans-Pacific project with another old friend, Hiroki Endo, who's based in Japan. It's kinda fun as I program the drums in NYC, email the file to him & he does the rest over there. We've done 1 tune so far & I'll keep you posted on how that progresses.
The most exciting news is that I'm going out to Sonic Park studios in Paramus, NJ later this week to check that their piano is as beautiful as it was when I recorded my last 2 CDs. If all is well, I'll be booking time to start recording CD#3! I'm hoping to begin recording before month's end. I'll surely keep you posted on that as well.
Till then, enjoy the rest of your summer!

Transmitting From NYC...
I just added 2 photos from way back in the archives taken at the original recording sessions for Leonard Bernstein's Mass in 1971 at Columbia Records Studios. What a thrill it was to work with the Maestro who had more energy than the entire orchestra combined! (He conducted the entire piece). Another thrill was having lunch with him in the basement cafeteria of the infamous Watergate Hotel (pre-Watergate scandal) which was situated next-door to the Kennedy Center where the piece was premiered. Without a doubt, a career highlight!

Transmitting From NYC...
Thought I'd give a little update as to what I've been up to over the past few weeks. In addition to continuing to practice like crazy towards recording CD#3 later this year, I recently played drums on a forthcoming CD from the great guitarist Paul Metzke (formerly with Tony Williams, Gil Evans, etc.) who I've been in a trio with for about 4 years. He calls the music "fusion/blues" which I suppose is pretty accurate. It was surely fun to play drums full-tilt with little or no restrictions. There's also a CD coming out soon by another guitarist, Keith Loving, my old buddy from the Gregory Hines band. I know I'm playing drums on there & there might even be some of my keyboard playing as well. Lastly, I just reunited with Michael Karp who I worked with for about 20 years, playing & co-writing music for TV. He called me to co-write some arrangements for "The Price Is Right." So there you have the spring highlights. Stay tuned for what the summer might bring!

Transmitting From NYC...
This Tuesday's Old Changing Way show (9-11pm www.wfhb.org) is all moon songs celebrating the Supermoon. My piece, "Wayne/Glimpses of the Moon" (from the Sanctuaries CD) should play around 9:40PM. Continued thanks to Steve Pollitt & Cindy Beaule for their support of my music!
Looks like I'll be recording the next CD at some point over the summer. Greatly looking forward to it & to see if these 25 new pieces will fit on one CD! Also supposed to be doing some recording on drums later this month with the great guitarist Paul Metzke. I'll keep you posted on all fronts. Till then, enjoy your spring!

Transmitting From NYC...
Well, friends & fans, a rather large chapter of my musical life has come to an end. Liza Minnelli & I have parted ways. It's been a total of over 20 years that I worked with her....12 part-time & 8 full-time. I served as both her keyboardist, drummer &, on a few occasions, conductor & am extremely proud of every note I played with her. I circled the world more than once, performing everywhere from Moscow to Tokyo to all over Europe & South America. From Carnegie Hall & Radio City Music Hall in NYC to the Hollywood Bowl to the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Olympia in Paris & the Sydney Opera House in Australia. I performed on her CD & DVD "Live From Radio City Music Hall" in 1991 all the way to her Tony-winning & Grammy-nominated Broadway show, "Liza's At The Palace" in 2008-2009. TV appearances from "Oprah", "Good Morning America", "The View" & "The Apprentice" in the US to live concert TV appearances in Europe & Japan.
As to why we've parted ways, I honestly don't know except to say that she's probably hearing something different coming from the drums other than what I've been delivering for the past year & a half. That's an artist's right & I respect that. Many of music's greats made similar changes at certain points in their careers. Or maybe it's just that she wants a younger, better-looking guy with hair. I'll probably never know but will say again that I'm very proud of my work with her & gave 1,000% to every note I played. It's been quite a run & I feel privileged to have been able to accompany her amazing talent for so long.
So where does that leave me? At least for the present, parked in NYC, practicing hard towards recording my 3rd CD sometime later this year which I hope to release in early 2013. That & the life of a free-lance musician, which has served me well my entire career. There are a couple of projects brewing that I'll let you know about as the time draws nearer to them being let loose on the world. I also recently had the opportunity to submit 3 tunes for an upcoming documentary on the great director David Lynch. Keeping my fingers crossed that at least one of them makes the final cut.
And there you have the latest. Until next time, Happy Spring!

Transmitting From NYC...
Coming off a really fun show with Liza at NJPAC this past Saturday. It'd been 2-3 months since we were all together &, with only a soundcheck, it came off like a charm. A testament to how good a band we have &, of course, how good Liza is.
In other news of note, it's looking like I'll start to record CD#3 sometime either in the Spring or Summer towards a release probably in the early part of 2013. I've got about 30 new pieces I'm wading through deciding which will make the cut. At this point, things seem to be leaning towards another solo piano album but you never know. Keep checking in for any more news or updates. In the meantime, I'll be practicing up a storm towards the 1st day in the studio.

Transmitting From NYC...
Yet another nice review for "FIrst Melancholy..." on the press page from FacingNorth.net.

Transmitting From NYC...
A nice new review of the "First Melancholy..." CD from Circles Of Light.com is now on the Press page.

Transmitting From NYC...
Just found out that my CD, "First Melancholy..." is #12 on DJ Scott Raymond's "Top 25 Albums of 2011" list! Scott broadcasts out of Poughkeepsie, NY on WVKR-FM & his show,"Secret Music", has been on the air for decades. Thanks Scott!

Transmitting From NYC...
Happy New Year!!
Here's a link to a nicely filmed Liza show from last fall in Basel, Switzerland with yours truly on drums.
http://videos.arte.tv/fr/videos/liza_minelli_at_avo_session-6294616.html

Transmitting From NYC...
...and a very nice review that just came in for the Sanctuaries CD from World Beat Canada. Also now on the Press page.

Transmitting From NYC...
In case you're interested, a "better late than never" review just came in for the "First Melancholy..." CD from Jazzweekly.com. I posted it on the Press page.

Transmitting From NYC...
I had a blast today playing drums with Lee Musiker's jazz trio at Avery Fisher Hall where we augmented the NY Philharmonic Principal Brass Quintet. I was very proud to have my photo & bio in a NY Phil. program (& my own dressing room with my name on the door to make me feel like a big shot). I added some photos on the photo page from the event. Hope we get to do it again!

Transmitting From NYC....
Lo & behold....I've finally updated the calendar page with a couple of interesting things coming up next month!! I'll be starting December with Paul Metzke's trio at the Port 41 bar in midtown. If you're a fan of amazing, blazing jazz, blues & rock guitar, you must check Paul out. He's really an unsung hero. Then moving over to Lincoln Center for a holiday show with Lee Musiker's trio accompanied by the NY Philharmonic Brass Quintet. Lee is Tony Bennett's musical director & a simply incredible jazz pianist. Keep your fingers crossed that I continue to keep that calendar page current!

Transmitting From Toronto, Canada...
Made it!!! 18 1/2 hours door-to-door from Basel, Switzerland to Toronto by the skin of our teeth! Our flight from Zurich was delayed about an hour to the point of, when we arrived at Newark (having to clear US customs, pick up our bags, return them to a baggage conveyor belt for the Newark-Toronto flight, take a tram to a different terminal & going through security again!) we were running like mad men & just made the flight to Toronto with minutes to spare. So here we are, in a nice hotel in Toronto, pretty fried but alive. Tomorrow, thankfully, is a day off with the show on Fri. & then home on Sat.
The show in Basel went well. It was one of those crowds that are polite & appreciative throughout & then go kinda crazy at the end. It was part of a big yearly festival which, this year, included people like Paul Anka, Lizz Wright, Earth, Wind & Fire, Chic & Steve Earle. A pretty eclectic lineup.
In other news, I have a couple of radio interviews coming up. One this coming Sunday, Oct. 30 at around 12:25PM with Miyuke Williams from WPFW in Wash. DC, & one with Joe Zupan from WICN in Worcester MA that's supposed to air around 2 or 3PM next Monday, Oct. 31. So, if you're around those areas, please listen in. I imagine we'll be talking a bit about the Sanctuaries CD, especially with Joe who I spoke with earlier in the year about First Melancholy when it 1st came out.
And that about wraps it up from the road for now. As always, I'll write with anything new or interesting as it happens so, till then, enjoy your Autumn &, of course, the forthcoming holiday season.

Transmitting From Basel, Switzerland...
The year's final road trip takes us first to this beautiful little city right on the Rhine with European charm in abundance. Still waiting to taste the food which will be soon.
In typical European tour fashion, we left last night & arrived this morning (Swiss time). Our show is tomorrow & then a quick turn around back across the Atlantic for a show in Toronto on Friday before heading home on Sat....and that will be the last of the road for the year unless something unexpected comes up.
As for interesting things coming up back in NYC: On Dec. 11, I'll be with Lee Musiker's jazz trio at Avery Fisher Hall along with the NY Philharmonic Brass Quintet. I believe we'll be doing Lee's arrangements of some holiday music. Lee's a master (as well as Tony Bennett's musical director!) so it should be a great time.
And there you have it. I'll try to make one final entry this week from Toronto. Till then...

Transmitting From Las Vegas, NV...
The final stop of this tour of casinos, having arrived today. We're at the Hilton which brings back fond memories as I worked here many times with Gregory Hines, usually opening for amazing acts like Ray Charles, Bill Cosby or Gladys Knight. It's also nice as it's located off the strip, away from the top-tier of Vegas madness. We're doing 2 shows here, tomorrow & Sat. before heading home Sunday.
Following this trip, a special treat for me will be diving into a recording session the next day in NYC with my old buddy Lee Musiker (Tony Bennett's musical director). Lee is truly one of the great accompanists of our time, in my opinion. His knowledge of both jazz & classical combine into some breathtaking moments. Even though we've played together many times over the years (in fact, a trio CD we did from '98 is starting to garner some airplay), I always feel lucky to get the chance to create some music with him & he never fails to play something that takes my breath away. He's a really special musician.
Tonight is a night off so I'm off to try to create some dinner plans. There's a great Italian place named Piero's that we used to frequent during the Gregory days that's close by so that's an option. Also, on these casino gigs, we often get coupons that give us free access to the buffets & discounts at many of the hotel restaurants. We'll see how it all goes down soon. The last major trip of the year will be happening in a couple of weeks & I'm sure I'll have something to report so stay tuned!

Transmitting From Reno, NV...
Here we are at Phase 2 of the Casino Tour. It was a long day of flying. I've done many trips like these before but, for some reason, today just seemed to drag on & on. A nice room, though, although it took some time to figure out how to turn on some of the lights. When it's overcast outdoors, the light from the window isn't much help but I did manage to figure it out. There were 2 lights involved. One on the desk & the larger living room-type light. The desk lamps' on/off switch seemlessly blends into the rest of it's silvery design so, if you're not looking at the exact right spot, you're sure to miss it. I came close to calling the front desk for help but was able to finally figure it out. Even more interesting was the larger lamp who's on/off switch was on the floor, kind of like a dimmer. On a brighter day it wouldn't have presented as much of a problem but with the aforementioned limited outdoor light, there I was, on hands & knees until finally finding it. So, I'm glad to report that my room is now well lit!
Our show here is tomorrow & then we move on to the casino capital, Las Vegas, on Thurs. for 2 weekend shows. More soon...

Transmitting From Niagara Falls, NY...
Happy Autumn!! It's been awhile!!
The next 10 days or so could be labeled the 'Casino Tour', I suppose. One here tonight, then 3 next week in Nevada...one in Reno & 2 in Las Vegas. Casinos, not my favorite places, as I've mentioned here before. This one is nice so far, at least because the cacophony from the casino can't be heard that well from other areas such as the coffee shop, bar or lounge. Nice room too. So, I suppose, as far as casinos go, this one isn't so bad.
Onto other business: A big shout out to Michael Denault at WGOE.org on the web as well as to Trish Lewis at WUCX-FM's Eclectic Chair for being the 1st 2 DJs to give the Sanctuaries CD airplay. Thanks guys!! We're just starting the Sanctuaries push & there'll hopefully be a lot more stations getting on the bandwagon. Interestingly, I'm hearing that people are liking the Sanctuaries music more than what's on First Melancholy. It doesn't surprise me in a way. If I had to give my own opinion in that zone, I might say that the songs on Sanctuaries might be a bit stronger although, without a doubt, I feel as though my playing on First Melancholy might have a bit more depth to it. Listen to me, reviewing my own music! How pompous & boring. My apologies.
Anyway, that's about it from Niagara Falls (step by step, inch by inch....and if you know where that's from, send me an email & I'll send you a CD). More coming soon.

Transmitting From NYC...
Lo & behold, another new photo added from Monte Carlo courtesy of Richard Cummings, great keyboardist (formerly with Harry Belafonte) & great guy! And this one's of just me during one of the shows with a cool grainy vibe. Thanks Richard!

Transmitting From Monte Carlo, Monaco...
Finally added a new shot to the photo page! It's from our appearance at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy last month. It's a nice one, I'd say.