Chris Cuda

************************************************************ **************************************** CHRIS CUDA - has recorded and/or performed with David Thomas (Rocket From The Tombs & Pere Ubu), Horns & Things, Sonny Geraci (The Outsiders), Len Berry, Tommy Roe, Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, Leslie Gore, Billy J. Krammer, The Shangri-La’s, Gilby Clarke (Guns & Roses, MC5, Heart), Michael Cartellone (drummer for Tommy Shaw, Damn Yankees & Lynyrd Skynyrd) Jeckyl & Hyde, Jackie Cooper (O’Jays drummer) Michael Gibbs (session w/orchestrator for Mahavishnu, Jaco, and Peter Gabriel), Ernie Krivda, Dazz, and Beaucoup band members to name a few. Additionally, a forthcoming collection of studio and live recordings are available under the title, “Chris Cuda, Trio Collections” in 2008. ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************ CHRIS CUDA – (GUITAR and COMPOSITION) is a self-taught all-around guitarist. Chris is currently touring with a Steinberger GL2T electric guitar, Breedlove Focus hand made acoustic guitar, Lucida Artista Classic Guitar, 1960s Supro steel, and Roland GI-20 synth guitar system, which enables Chris’ synth guitar to sound like a huge array of musicians. Chris had a wonderful relationship with jazz pioneer guitar legend, the late Bill DeArango and learned a lot about life and music through Bill. Chris’ influences include Julian Bream, John Coltrane, James Brown, Mahavishnu, Yes, Zappa, and 20th century composers. ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************ JACK HRUSH – (Bass) is a northeast Ohio bass guitar legend. As a performer Jack is able to play rock, soul, funk, pop, and jazz with equal strength. He is well versed in performing with the Tri-C Jazz Lab Ensemble as he is teaching at the Cleveland Music Settlement. Jack has performed and or recorded with such diverse names as Ernie Krivda, Kenny Davis, Bill Randsom, (drummer for Levert), Dave Hersey big-band, Tom Latizia, and his main-stay with Cliff Habian for 14 years including 3 recordings on Milestone Records. Jack has shared the stage with Jazz sax giants Joe Lovano and Jane Ira Bloom, pianist Joe Howard, and percussionist Jamie Haddad (Paul Simon). Additionally, Jack has appeared on Good Morning America CBS Television and is known for being able to play almost any tune on the spot! ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************ STEVE RENKO – (Drums) is an 18 year-old musical prodigy, and is the most talked about drummer in northeast Ohio. Besides playing and recording with Chris Cuda, Steve is currently playing drums with the legendary Ernie Krivda’s Big Band and the Bad Boys of Blues. Steve is able to capture the nuances of Chris’ odd time-signature music with mega-chops as well as laying down a monster groove. There have been several articles written about him in the Plain Dealer, and Steve has been the recipient of many awards. Steve Renko has been studying with local drum guru, Bob McKee. He has also drawn much praise from international percussion giant, Jamie Haddad. Steve and Chris Cuda have received much interest in performing in NYC, where Steve is planning on attending music school. ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************ Chris Cuda Beachland Live

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Add to My Profile | More Videos****************************************************** ************************************************************ *************** ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ********* Chris Cuda was born on Christmas Day in Northeastern Ohio and is the younger of two children by his Italian parents. In the second grade, Chris did a tour of his school classrooms with a zither jr. his uncle gave him that year. "I've Been Working on the Railroad" was the first memorable tune Chris figured out by ear, which he felt compelled to share with his schoolmates. At the age of 14, Chris and his brother Tony shared an electric guitar and amp that their grandmother purchased for them.By age 16, Chris began to explore pop, fusion, jazz, art-rock, orchestral, and classical guitar music. Chris had begun a journey in musical exploration, experimentation, and learning guitar by ear. Chris purchased a Gibson ES150DC guitar from jazz guitar pioneer Bill DeArango. He began to hang around DeArango's home and eventually they jammed around on jazz bits. Through DeArango, Chris was exposed to jazz giants such as Miles, Coltrane, Dizzy, and Bird, as well as fusion. It was Bill DeArango that introduced Chris to David Thomas fka Crocus Behemoth of Rocket from the Tombs and Pere Ubu. Thomas thought Chris was an amazing guitarist that could do anything and promptly recruited him into his band. WhiIe in this capacity, Chris shared the stage with UFO and the Iron Butterfly while cutting his own piece of rock-n-roll history in this bizarre yet unique group. Simultaneously, Chris was performing with local groups doing pop covers at pubs; however, Chris had an aching desire to form a band that could perform longer and more complex arrangements, which he found in his short lived band called "This."At age 21, Chris began to explore his R&B roots with a band called ToJam nka Horns & Things, while a student at Cleveland State University as a non-musical major. His interests in electronic music led to his experimentation with a Hagstrom Swede Guitar, an Ampeg Patch 2000 system interfaced with a Mini Moog. Soon, Chris was invited to play on a session produced by then Berkley Music College professor, orchestral arranger, and composer, Michael Gibbs. Gibbs loved Chris' free spirit and organic approach as a self-taught musician. This began a long list of performances, gigs, and studio sessions that subsequently led to his dropping out of college. Jazz Musician, composer, and producer Ron Smith invited Chris to play on numerous sessions, including sessions with former band mate Dennis Lewin who was forming his pop group Beaucoup. Chris's musical tastes would soon take him elsewhere. Smith invited Chris to play on sessions with monster session players such as Ernie Krivda, Val Kent, Joe Lavano, and Smith himself. By the age of 25, Chris had recorded or performed with members of Beaucoup, The Dazz Band, David Thomas of Pere Ubu, ToJam nka Horns & Things, and Sonny Geraci of the Outsiders, and worked with producer/composer/musicians Michael Gibbs, Bruce Seifert of GTR Studios, and Ron Smith to name a few. At this point in time Chris was looking to develop himself as composer/songwriter/musician. He recruited Drummer Michael Cartellone of later Tommy Shaw, Damn Yankees, and Lynyrd Skynyrd fame to Chris' first solo project. Later, Chris invited former band member Bill March to his sessions. Several recordings were made over a six year period with Michael on drums and Chris on most all the other instruments and vocals. It was during this time that began to develop his own musical place as a soloist and composer. Chris' music fused pop, rock, classical, jazz, and jazz-fusion in his own distinct way. Unfortunately, outside of a short-lived small label interest, Chris' hope of developing a solo career was suspended. Chris returned to college and earned a Bachelors Degree in Social Work with a Bachelor of Arts. He then returned to working with Sonny Geraci and the Outsiders, and backing other retro acts such as Len Berry, Tommy Roe, Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, Leslie Gore, Billy J. Krammer, The Shangralas, and others. Opting to return to his musical roots, Chris left the Outsiders and retro circuit. Shortly thereafter he earned his Masters Degree in Social Work. As an independent recording artist, Chris released one solo CD. All music and vocals were composed and performed by Chris Cuda. Throughout this extremely diverse CD sampler is Chris' signature acoustic and electric guitars mixed with his ensemble arrangements. Influences of Prog Rock, Pop, Jazz, Singer/Songwriter, Fusion, World, Acoustic, Orchestral, Art Rock, and New Age ring throughout this work.