Iconic baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber has died at the age of 80

One of the most definitive baritone saxophonists Ronnie Cuber whose chunky, boisterous, fruity often funky sound adorned dozens of records over a long career and to his fans carried on the flame lit by Gerry Mulligan and Harry Carney has died at the age of 80. According to the authoritative specialist JazzWax site Cuber ''died in his studio on New York's Upper West Side after suffering from internal injuries related to a fall near his home in the spring of 2020.''

Known for his work with Woody Herman, Slide Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, the Gadd Gang and Frank Zappa and with his own bands he was a frequent visit over the years to London shrine of all jazz shrines, Ronnie Scott's.

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Cuber, also a flautist and clarinettist, appeared as a sessioneer with a galaxy of hitmakers including BB King and Paul Simon. He began as a leader in the mid-1970s and recorded on such labels as Xanadu, Electric Bird, Milestone and extensively with SteepleChase including a late period gem with Jay Anderson and Adam Nussbaum, Ronnie's trio.

Cuber's significant sideperson credits are many and varied and include Lonnie Smith classic Live at Club Mozambique recorded in the 1970s eventually seeing release in the mid-1990s and the George Benson fan favourite - Good King Bad (1975).

More reading: from August: Cuber heard on 'I Can't Turn You Loose'

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Iconic baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber has died at the age of 80

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