Skip to content

Bill Cunliffe

Bill Cunliffe

hires3_med_hr

Contacts

Publicists:
Don Lucoff

Record Label Contact:
Le Coq Records

REQUEST DIGITAL ASSETS

Three veteran jazz virtuosos join forces for the first time as pianist Bill Cunliffe, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta for a high-spirited, vigorously swinging standards session titled, simply, Trio – after all, with three names like those on the marquee, no further embellishment is needed. 

Trio, due out February 19, 2021 via Le Coq Records, came together spontaneously, making the exhilarating chemistry and dynamic interplay all the more remarkable. Cunliffe has become something of a house arranger and musical director for many of the newly-launched imprint’s projects, and Patitucci and Colaiuta have quickly become part of the Le Coq family. It was at label founder/producer Piero Pata’s urging that the trio let loose in Hollywood’s storied Capitol Studios without a script. 

Piero surprised us as we were working on some other projects with him,” Patitucci recalls. He had the idea for us to do this trio record. It was very impromptu, like in the Blue Note record era, where you basically do a record in a day. We had a lot of fun and it was really relaxed. 

“I was like a kid in a candy store,” gushes Cunliffe. “It was pretty challenging because it just three guys in a room. But it was a lot of fun, because these are two master musicians whose work I’ve loved for years.” 

A Grammy-winning arranger, Cunliffe typically embarks on a project with far more preparation. Since beginning his career as pianist and arranger with the Buddy Rich Big Band, Cunliffe has worked with such luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson and James Moody, while establishing himself as a renowned solo artist and bandleader with more than a dozen albums under his name. All of which made this recording a daunting but ultimately thrilling experience – in the making as much as in the listening. 

“I like jazz music that has shape,” Cunliffe explains, “that has a beginning, middle and end, and drama. Usually I craft those elements in my arrangements. John and Vinnie are able to create those qualities on the spot.” 

John Patitucci may be best known for his long and meaningful associations with Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter, but he’s worked with a who’s who of artists in and outside of jazz. With Corea he came to prominence as a member of the pianist’s Akoustic and Elektric Bands; for the last two decades he’s been a member of the Wayne Shorter Quartet alongside pianist Danilo Pérez and drummer Brian Blade, perhaps the most revered small band in jazz today. But he’s also played throughout the world with Herbie Hancock, Stan Getz, Pat Metheny, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Michael Brecker, McCoy Tyner, Nancy Wilson, Sting, Aaron Neville, Natalie Cole, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Astrud and Joao Gilberto, and many more. 

Colaiuta has also bridged the worlds of jazz and pop throughout his career. He rose to fame playing with Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell and Sting, while touring with jazz greats from Herbie Hancock to Chick Corea. He’s also a prolific first-call studio drummer whose work graces recordings by Leonard Cohen, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, Billy Joel and countless others. 

Patitucci and Colaiuta are no strangers to one another, of course. Colaiuta is one of three drummers on the bassist’s self-titled debut album on GRP from 1987; they’ve crossed paths scores of times over the intervening decades, including as a version of Chick Corea’s Akoustic Band that recorded Live From the Blue Note Tokyo in 1996. Cunliffe has worked with both of them at various times as well, but Trio marks the first time they’ve been able to interact as trio. 

“Both John and Vinnie have spent a lot time in different aspects of the pop world,” Cunliffe says. “But they both grew up in jazz like I did. They’re both stone cold jazz guys.” 

“Working with Bill Cunliffe,” Colaiuta says, you can always expect – at the very least –amazing skill and professionalism, some deep swinging, and a big bucket of fun!” 

The tone for the session is set with the trio’s sprightly take on George Shearing’s “Conception.” Introduced by a brisk solo shot by Colaiuta, the tune sparks, nimble, graceful solos from all three members, all clearly in upbeat spirits. It’s followed by a swooning version of David Raksin’s classic theme from “Laura,” a more winsomely romantic interpretation than the noir-tinged usual.  

They then delve into the repertoire of Patitucci’s longtime bosses for a steely plunge into Wayne Shorter’s “Anna Maria” and a graceful rendition of Chick Corea’s “The One Step,” on which the bassist speaks with eloquent lyricism. Colaiuta’s rifle-crack rhythm sets the pace for a blistering run through the Miles Davis favorite “7 Steps To Heaven,” while the drummer’s lush, whispering brushwork conjures a cloud-soft foundation for Cunliffe to ruminate nostalgically on the classic ballad “Good Morning Heartache.”  

The camaraderie that the three locked into so quickly and (seemingly) easily is playfully evident on their loose, celebratory spin on the well-worn standard “My Shining Hour,” while their taut link-up braces a slyly grooving rethink of Thelonious Monk’s “We See.” The album concludes on a wistful note, with a tender but lively “Just In Time.” 

The mix of standards and songs familiar to the trio’s members was not only a practical consideration given the impromptu nature of the session, Cunliffe explains; it was key to capturing such brilliantly conversational playing. “Except for ‘The One Step,’ we did all of the tunes from memory, without using any music at all. That means we were able to look at each other, hear each other, challenge each other and react to

  • AVAILABLE NOW: The Jazz All Stars Vol. 2 | Le Coq Records - Available Now via Le Coq Records Le Coq Records Kicks Off its Second Star-studded Year with an Amazing Ensemble of Virtuoso Musicians on Le Coq Records Presents The Jazz All Stars Vol. 2   The Follow-up to the Imprint’s Inaugural Release Features a Roster of Revered Modern Jazz Musicians Including John Patitucci, Bill Cunliffe, Chris…
  • The Jazz All Stars Vol. 2 | Le Coq Records - Le Coq Records Kicks Off its Second Star-studded Year with an Amazing Ensemble of Virtuoso Musicians on Le Coq Records Presents The Jazz All Stars Vol. 2   The Follow-up to the Imprint’s Inaugural Release Features a Roster of Revered Modern Jazz Musicians Including John Patitucci, Bill Cunliffe, Chris Potter, Vinnie Colaiuta, Alex Acuña, John…
  • AN EVENING WITH ANDY JAMES & JOHN PATITUCCI & Her All-Star Band Live! - AN EVENING WITH ANDY JAMES & JOHN PATITUCCI LIVE in Las Vegas! All-Star Band Includes Chris Potter, Nate Smith, Alex Acuña, Jon Cowherd, and Terell Stafford Catalina Bar & Grill 6725 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Date.  August 15, 2021 Time. 7:30 PM Price of the show. $25.00 The Las Vegas based Le Coq Records…
  • Le Coq Records | LIVE in Las Vegas -    AN EVENING WITH ANDY JAMES & JOHN PATITUCCI  LIVE in Las Vegas! All-Star Band Includes Chris Potter, Terell Stafford, Alex Acuña, Marcus Gilmore, Jon Cowherd, Michael Dease, Bill Cunliffe, and Jake Langley Italian American Club 2333 E Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89104 Date.  June 27th, 2021 Time. Dinner 6:30 PM, Show 8 pm Price of…
  • Bill Cunliffe | “Trio” | Available February 19th via Le Coq Records - Pianist Bill Cunliffe, Bassist John Patitucci and Drummer Vinnie Colaiuta Convene as a Trio for the First Time Ever on the Spirited, Swinging New Album Trio   Three veteran jazz virtuosos join forces for the first time as pianist Bill Cunliffe, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta for a high-spirited, vigorously swinging standards session titled, simply, Trio – after all, with three…
  • Andy James | “Tu Amor” | Available January 8, 2021 via Le Coq Records - Cosmopolitan Vocalist Andy James Explores an Exhilarating Range of Latin Jazz Influences on Tu Amor set for January 22 on Le Coq Records  Boasting Colorful Arrangements by Pianist Bill Cunliffe, Tu Amor Features an All-Star Ensemble including Alex Acuña, John Patitucci, Vinnie Colaiuta, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Terell Stafford, John Beasley, Rick Margitza and Bob Sheppard Two great…
  • Le Coq Records | “The Jazz All Stars, Vol. 1” | Available January 8, 2021 - New Label Le Coq Records Launches  with Star-Studded Inaugural Release, Le Coq Records Presents The Jazz All Stars, Vol. 1   A Roster of Revered Modern Jazz Musicians Including Alex Acuña, John Beasley, Vinnie Colaiuta, Bill Cunliffe, Andy James, Joe LaBarbera, Rick Margitza, John Patitucci, Marvin “Smitty” Smith,  Terell Stafford and others Promising a catalogue…

TRIO Front

Trio

ITUNES AMAZON

Record Label:  Le Coq Records
Release Date:  February 19, 2021