ABOUT JOHN

JOHN COCUZZI is recognized by many as one of the most versatile, talented and exciting musicians to come along for quite a while.

The early years of his musical career were spent playing the drums and piano, but John has since earned a reputation as the East Coast's Premier Swing Vibraphonist.

John Cocuzzi was born at Andrews Air Force Base, just outside Washington DC, on October 26, 1964. He graduated from Springbrook High school in 1982, and went directly to Montgomery Junior College in Rockville, Maryland as an applied percussion major. In college, he was fortunate to study arranging with Bill Potts who did arrangements for the Buddy Rich big band and the award-winning "Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess". In a short time, John established himself in the Washington DC area for his dynamic style on vibes, drums and piano. For the past 14 years, John has performed at the 219 Restaraunt, in historic Old Town Alexandria, Virginia every Tuesday and Wednesday night. In 1992, he was featured on the National Public Radio program, "Riverwalk - Live At the Landing" with the Jim Cullum jazz band. He currently has 2 shows running on the BET Jazz Network/ The Jazz Central Show. Over the last 10 years, festival performances include the Atlanta Jazz Party, the San Diego Swinging Jazz Festival, the West Texas Jazz Society, events for the New Jersey Jazz Society and many festivals in Holland and Belgium. During that time, John has performed with Bucky and John Pizzarelli, Russell Malone, Howard Alden, Warren and Allan Vache', Den Peplowski, Chuck Hedges, Bob Wilbur, Ed Polcer, Snooky Young, Milt Hinton, Joe Ascione, Louis Bellson, Mark Shane, Johnny Varro, Dick Hyman and a host of other world-class musicians.

At home, John has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts, the Corcoran Art Gallery, the Smithsonian, the National Press Club, the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington DC's premier jazz club, Blues Alley. Since 1997, John has been the piano sound and style in the nationally-reknowned swing, jump and blues band - BIG JOE AND THE DYNAFLOWS, under the direction and leadership of Big Joe Maher. John Cocuzzi's latest release, SWINGING AND BURNING(on the Wildchild label) was produced by Big Joe and features his talent as an expert time keeper on the drums, as well as Washington, DC musicians: John Previti on bass, Steve Abshire on guitar, and special guest Allan Vache' on the clarinet. John Cocuzzi continues to produce standing ovations and add new excitement to his live performances.