Biography

CHRIS CUZME - SAXOPHONIST

Chris Cuzme is known throughout New York City for his tireless energy and inexhaustible creativity. With sensitive melodic ingenuity and a rich, bold saxophone tone with which to deliver it, he has been known to hypnotize listeners into overwhelming joy and make them weep without fully understanding why. Audience members have likened their listening experiences to being struck by a velvet hammer, and being told "something they've always known in words they've never heard before". Performers have likened playing with Cuzme to performing with an extremely passionate, far less monotonous, and infinitely more sensitive Energizer Bunny.

Cuzme attended the world-renowned Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan* and continued his musical education at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. He studied under the direction of Bill Sears, Kenny Burrell, Rufus Reid, Gary Smulyan, Don Braden, Norman Simmons, John Riley, and Steve Wilson among others.

Chris Cuzme currently resides in Brooklyn and performs throughought the NY metropolitan area with The Chris Cuzme What Not, Jojo Kuo's Afrobeat Collective, Chris Cuzme's Silent But Violent Arkestra (A.K.A. - 'Scorchestra'), Chris Berry and PANJEA, Spokinn Movement, Amayo's Fu Arkestra, Global Illage (nominated for “Best Jazz Performers of the Year 2001” by Philadelphia City Paper), X-ceptional Outcome (XO), as well as working with countless others as a sideman. As a saxophonist he has played, performed and recorded with such diverse musical luminaries as John Hicks, Steve Neil, James Spaulding, Rufus Reid, Roger Humphries, Joe Williams, Fred Wesley and the JB’s, Ryan Adams, Guster, Ari Hoenig, Ursula Rucker, Jamaladeen Tacuma, Slick Rick, Chico Mendoza, and countless others. Cuzme is influenced primarily by the saxophone stylings of Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Archie Schepp, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Dewey Redman, Charlie Parker, Paul Gonzalves, Harry Carney, Albert Ayler, Pharoah Sanders, John Coltrane, and Lester Young.

*Upon graduating Interlochen Arts Academy he was gifted with their highest honor, The Young Artist’s Award.

CHRIS CUZME - BASSIST

Cuzme takes his years of experience on saxophone and applies it to playing the electric bass. He currently plays regularly with the international Hip Hop band, Spokinn Movement, as well as with R&B singers Layla, The Mariella Show, and the world music band, PANJEA. In addition, he performs every Monday night for 'Freestyle Mondays' an open-mike hip hop session with the live band "Exceptional Outcome", known as the XO. He is primarily influenced by the bass stylings of James Jamerson and Willy Weeks.

DISCOGRAPHY

60 Minute Spin Cycle - Spokinn Movement 2006 (Chocolate Marauder Records)

R.Y.E. Ready Your Ears - Presence 2006 (Praxis Records)

Dancemakers - Chris Berry and Panjea 2005 (Wrausse Records)

Shine - Chris Berry and Panjea 2005 (indie)

Guster On Ice (DVD) - Guster 2004 (Warner Brothers)

Bring The Funk On Down - The JB's Reunion 2002 (Instinct Records)

The Sushi Love Sessions - Global Illage 2001 (Equal Area Records)

4 Men, 4 Mics, Onetet - Onetet 2001(Indie)

One For Free - Onetet 2001 (Indie)

The Parlance of Our Time - Elwood 2000 (Palm Pictures)

Avant What Not - Jazzheads 2000 (1Krecordings)

Betamix - 1K sampler (1Krecordings)

Alive at Sarah Street - Bobby Syvarth 1999 (LCD Music)

Sole Pocket, The EP - Sole Pocket 1998 (Indie)

Printemps - Leslie Cheung 1998 (Rock Records)

The Heat And The Sweet - Norman Simmons 1997 (MillJac Publishing Company)

SPECIAL THANKS: to Jadis Blurton, Sanford Ullman, Acela Cuzme-Cajias, and to 'my three dads': Craig Blurton, Pepe Cuzme, & Bill Sears. To all my family (Jessica Cuzme, Jessica Blurton, Daniel Blurton, Susan Rayo, Jeremy Blurton, Mike Campbell, Colin & Tina Campbell, Skip & Wendy Campbell, Katie Ullman, Gage Ullman, Stuart & Barbie Ullman, Hector Ernesto Cuzme, Melissa Cuzme, Rafael Cuzme, Ernesto y Lorena Cuzme, Alan Cuzme, Ryan Cuzme, Karen Cuzme y todos mi primos en Ecuador) and friends for their loving support and infinite inspiration.