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John Cocuzzi

Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, John was first a drummer, then a piano player, and didn't add the vibraphone until his late teens when he was inspired by Lionel Hampton recordings. Since then, he has performed alongside world-class musicians at many domestic jazz festivals and jazz parties, and at prestigious venues in Europe. John is recognized by many as one of the most versatile, talented and exciting musicians to come along in quite awhile. John and his quartet play favorites from the songbooks of Terry Gibbs, Milt Jackson, Red Norvo, and Lionel Hampton. He has earned a reputation as the East Coast's premier swing vibraphonist and is now living in California. http://www.johncocuzzimusic.com/

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220
Album Review

John Cocuzzi: Swingin' and Burnin'

Read "Swingin' and Burnin'" reviewed by Dave Nathan


John Cocuzzi is a versatile, talented multi-instrumentalist jazz musician who with some other very talented musicians, stretch out for an entertaining 60 minutes plus of solid, straight ahead jazz music on this very good album, Swingin' and Burnin'. A Washington, D.C. native, Cocuzzi gained an appreciation of jazz at an early age listening to his record collection and to his father who was a percussionist with the U.S. Marine Band. Initially studying piano and then drums, after hearing Lionel Hampton, ...

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218

Event

37th Sacramento Jazz Festival & Jubilee

37th Sacramento Jazz Festival & Jubilee

Source: Michael Ricci

Over 70 bands in 24 venues; 450 sets of live music over the 4-day Memorial Day Weekend! Classic New Orleans jazz and swing, Dixieland, blues, zydeco, Latin, Western Swing, plus gospel sets on Sunday morning. Special events

FEATURED ARTISTS: Bob Wilber, Molly Ringwald, Bill Allred, Nicki Parrott, Tom Hook, Jon Erik-Kellso, Bob Schulz, Bria Skonberg, Allan Vach, Antti Sarpila, Bob Draga, Johnny Varro, John Sheridan, Dan Barrett, Rebecca Kilgore, Eddie Erickson, Dave Stone, Terry Myers, Russ Phillips, Steve Homan, Jeff ...

156

Event

Feb. 26 Houston Person, Wycliffe Gordon, Joe Ascione, John Cocuzzi in Sacramento, CA

Feb. 26 Houston Person, Wycliffe Gordon, Joe Ascione, John Cocuzzi in Sacramento, CA

Source: All About Jazz

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008 at 7 pm in Sacramento, CA NEW ORLEANS JAZZ with EAST COAST CLASS at a concert fundraiser for the annual Trad. Jazz Youth Band Festival (TJYBF). The Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society and Nelmar Construction present Ed Polcer's East Coast All-Stars at a fundraiser for the annual Trad. Jazz Youth Band Festival. The “Long Live JAZZ" concert features nationally-known musicians Wycliffe Gordon (of the Lincoln Center Orch.) and saxophonist Houston Person as part of a sextet performing ...

John Cocuzzi is a versatile, talented multi-instrumentalist jazz musician who, with some other very talented musicians, stretches out for an entertaining 60- minutes-plus of solid, straight-ahead jazz music on this very good album, Swingin' and Burnin'.
— DAVE NATHAN, "All About Jazz"

John Cocuzzi has got to be the swingingest young vibes player in the country. Besides having a marvelous ear for harmony, John has fire, enthusiasm, and speed with the mallets. He also plays fine piano.
— STEVE JORDAN, guitarist, from his book "Rhythm Man: 50 Years in Jazz"

Vaché and Cocuzzi make for an exciting front line.
— ALISON KERR, "Scotland on Sunday"

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Primary Instrument

Vibraphone

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Music

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