Ronnie Cuber


Ronald Edward Cuber is a jazz saxophonist. He has also played in Latin, pop, rock, and blues sessions. In addition to his primary instrument, baritone sax, he has played tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet, and flute, the latter on an album by Eddie Palmieri as well as on his own recordings. As a leader, Cuber is known for hard bop and Latin jazz. As a side man, he has played with B. B. King, Paul Simon, and Eric Clapton. Cuber can be heard on Freeze Frame by the J. Geils Band, and one of his most spirited performances is on Dr. Lonnie Smith's 1970 Blue Note album Drives. He was also a member of the Saturday Night Live Band.
Cuber was in Marshall Brown's Newport Youth Band in 1959, where he switched from tenor to baritone sax. His first notable work was with Slide Hampton and Maynard Ferguson. Then from 1966 to 1967, Cuber worked with George Benson. He was also a member of the Lee Konitz nonet from 1977 to 1979.
He can be heard playing in Frank Zappa's group in the mid-1970s, including the album Zappa in New York. He has been a member of the Mingus Big Band since its inception in the early 1990s. He was an off-screen musician for the movie Across the Universe.

Discography

As leader

With Patti Austin
With George Benson
With Nick Brignola
With Maynard Ferguson
With David Clayton-Thomas
With The Gadd Gang
With Grant Green
With Billy Joel
With Sam Jones
With Lee Konitz
With Jimmy McGriff
With Idris Muhammad
With Horace Silver
With Lonnie Smith
With Mickey Tucker
With Gerald Wilson
With Rare Silk
With Randy Brecker
With Dr. John
With Paul Simon
  • Graceland
With Tom Scott
  • Bebop United
With Eddie Palmieri'