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IN JOHN'S
WORDS:
“My father
always wanted
to learn the piano but
didn’t really have an
opportunity to do so
in his childhood,
so he got piano
lessons for me when
I was 8 years old.
I studied with my
first teacher,
Mrs. Sturgis,
in Cheverly, MD.
(Thank you
Mrs. Sturgis!)
I had a lesson every
Saturday morning
at her house.
Then, I studied
with Mr. Pollack
for 6 years.
(Thank you
Mr. Pollack!)
When I heard his
8-year-old son
play Bach on the
'good' piano upstairs,
I realized
I wasn’t cut out to be
a classical pianist,
so I spent my time
learning and
listening to jazz.
Mr. Pollack
finally lost patience
with me improvising
Bach’s music,
and the rest
is history."
—JOHN COCUZZI
"Versatility, virtuosity and passion"
IN THE SPIRIT OF LOUIS
Swingster John Cocuzzi has New Orleans flavor with East Coast class. He plays with passion and intensity on piano, vibes and drums. As a vocal stylist, he has that "shy guy" allure. Dance music and more: ballads, burners, and blues; boogie woogie and familiar standards, are played in John's dynamic style and with diverse rhythms. His innovation brings new life to old tunes. John "swings" in any style he plays, from classic jazz and blues to big band "jump-jive" and Latin. He can stretch out in modern styles, too. Smooth or smokin', he livens-up a room, connecting with his audience and adjusting to suit the mood and "Let the Good Times Roll."
"FIRE IN THE BELLY"
An intuitive performer, John possesses that musical "fire in the belly," igniting the crowd with skillful improvisation, "telling his story" through high-energy, spirited solos. First a drummer, then a piano player, John didn't add the vibraphone till 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.
STYLES AND INFLUENCES
Starting as a drummer had the greatest influence on John's rhythmic versatility on piano and vibes. Cocuzzi's piano work is influenced by Jelly Roll Morton, Thomas "Fats" Waller, Mead "LUX" Lewis, Professor Longhair, Nat "King" Cole, James Booker, and Erroll Garner. One can also hear echoes of Gene Harris and Dave McKenna in John's playing. His vibraphone influences include Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, and Milt Jackson. His vocal influences are from New Orleans jazz and blues stylists, but John also has his own shy-guy style on ballads. He enjoys making old songs new by creatively introducing fresh rhythms and honoring the rhythms of New Orleans in the spirit of Louis Armstrong.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
John Cocuzzi was born in the 60s at Andrews Air Force Base, just outside Washington, DC. His father, Frank Cocuzzi, had been a percussionist for the U.S. Marine Band and was a professional jazz drummer. Growing up, John would accompany his dad and sit-in at jam sessions with the older players. As a young man exposed to great jazz, he was able to get acquainted with these players and their music. There was live music everywhere John went; thus began his musical life path. John established himself in the DC area as a dynamic stylist on vibes, drums, piano and vocals.
LEADER & FOLLOWER
For 15 years, John was Music Director for the 219 Restaurant’s Basin Street Lounge in Old Town, Alexandria, VA. He was also Music Director for the Crystal City Jazz Celebration, a jazz party in the DC area, where John worked since its inception in 2003 through 2006, presenting the best artists in classic jazz today.
In the DC area, John appeared with his own trio/quartet and performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian’s IMAX Jazz Café, the Corcoran Art Gallery, and Blues Alley, Washington DC’s premier jazz club. He has also performed at the Lincoln Center in New York City, the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, MD, Snug Harbor and the Palm Court Jazz Café in New Orleans, and at Marian's Jazz Room in Bern, Switzerland.
He has been working with top musicians for over 20 years and continues to attract new fans wherever his music takes him. He tours annually with Ed Polcer's All-Stars, and is fortunate to have performed at every single Atlanta Jazz Party (one of the greatest in the world!) since it began in 1990. In recent years, he has been a featured artist on numerous cruise ships, and in 2007 relocated to Northern California, furthering his career on the West Coast.
IN GOOD COMPANY
John has been fortunate to perform live with these Jazz / Blues giants: Billy Butterfield, Snooky Young, Steve Jordan, Bob Haggart, Milt Hinton, Keter Betts, Louis Bellson, Barrett Deems, “Weeping” Tommy Brown, Jimmy “T-99” Nelson, Floyd Dixon, Earl King, and Jimmy McCracklin.
While on tour, he has shared the stage with world-class artists Joe Wilder, Byron Stripling, Warren Vaché, Jackie Coon, Bob Wilber, Kenny Davern, Bobby Gordon, Houston Person, Harry Allen, George Masso, Eddie Locke, Barbara Morrison, Peter Appleyard, Johnny Frigo, Wycliffe Gordon, Red Holloway, Bob Wilber, Bucky & John Pizzarelli, Russell Malone, Howard Alden, boogie-woogie piano great Bob Seeley, Dick Hyman, John Bunch, Eddie Higgins, Jake Hanna, Butch Miles, Bobby Rosengarden, Chuck Redd, and a host of others.
John has also played alongside Tom Saunders, Jon-Erik Kellso, Scott Robinson, Evan Christopher, Jim Galloway, Kim Cusack, Tom Fischer, Eric Schneider, Mike McMullen, Bill Allred, Russ Phillips, Bob Havens, Dan Levinson, Dan Block, Eddie Erickson, Steve Homan, Mark Shane, Vince Giordano, Murray Wall, Andy Cleyndert, Jennifer Leitham, Nicki Parrott, Banu Gibson, Rebecca Kilgore and many more (plus those listed below for recordings).
RECORDINGS: John has recorded many compact discs, under his own name and with other classic jazz artists: Dan Barrett, Randy Reinhart, Randy Sandke, Ed Polcer, Ken Peplowski, Allan Vaché, John Allred, Andy Stein, Skitch Henderson, Bucky & John Pizzarelli, James Chirillo, John Sheridan, Johnny Varro, Milt Hinton, Paul Keller, Phil Flanigan, Frank Tate, Ed Metz, Jr., Joe Ascione, and Daryl Sherman.
THIS AND THAT
On radio, John recorded a session for NPR’s “Riverwalk: Live at The Landing” with the Jim Cullum Band. It was a tribute to Benny Goodman, “The Swing Shift: Jazz on Late-Night Radio,” and featured Allan Vaché on clarinet with Nicholas Payton on trumpet.
Recent tours with Ed Polcer have also included educational programs for grades K-8 and college level clinics involving demonstrations, information, technique, and performance, where they discuss America’s original art form—Jazz and Blues—and the instruments and musicians that made classic jazz what it is today.
John also does composing and arranging for jazz and other styles, and he does studio recording/mixing for classic jazz and swing. Visit the Music page to hear samples of some of his recordings.
Articles, News, and Reviews
REVIEW – CD: "Swingin' and Burnin'" – All About Jazz
By Dave Nathan
REVIEW – CD: "LIVE! In Cactus Country" – L.A. Jazz Scene
By Harvey Barkan
REVIEW – CD: "Swingin' and Burnin'"
Assorted from The Absolute Sound, Jazz Times, and CMJ New Music Report
REVIEW – CD: "We Got Rhythm" by the Big Three Trio
By Oscar Groomes, O's Place Jazz Newsletter
REVIEW – CD: "We Got Rhythm" by the Big 3 Trio
By Jim Santella, Cadence Magazine
NEWS RELEASE – John Cocuzzi named "Jazz Ambassador 2007" at AZ Classic Jazz Festival – Chandler, Arizona
ARTICLE – "Swing & Jazz Preservation Society January 15, 2008 Concert: ED POLCER AND HIS JAZZ ALL-STARS" – by Mort Mozar
ARTICLE – "The Day John Cocuzzi’s Band Almost Blew the Roof Off the Glendora Ballroom" – by Nicolette Modaber
ARTICLE – "Jazz in Mountain Time: Summit Jazz is Top-Level Music"
– by Bob Lynn
ARTICLE — (Riverwalk Radio) "The Swing Shift: Jazz on Late-Night Radio" – by Don Mopsick
What Others Say
About John Cocuzzi
© 2007 John Cocuzzi