Stew Cutler - Guitarist Composer
In a career spanning over 4 decades, jazz/blues/gospel guitarist/composer Stew Cutler has established himself as a bandleader and composer . With 8 record releases to his credit as a leader and playing on countless recording sessions
as a sideman, Cutler’s prolific career is a walk through musical history.
Stew Cutler was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. Cutler was around music from an early age, his father was a classical violinist. His parents seperated when he was 9 but he still found music, the guitar, only a few years after this family discord. Cutler would “meet” his father again at 25. Cutler dove into his instrument and at just 19 years old Cutler landed his first touring job with blues legend Z.Z. Hill. Over time, Cutler immersed himself in studying music and was mentored by guitarist James Clark. Soon thereafter he began calloborating with instrumental artists Bobby Previte and Eliott Sharp. Not long after that Cutler moved to Woodstock, NY and began working with bassist Harvey Brooks along with many well-known artists that were part of that musical kaleidoscope.
Over the years Cutler honed his craft through collaborations with an illustrious array of artists including; Percy Sledge, Eddie Floyd, Wilson Pickett, Fontella Bass (featured on Bass' Grammy nominated album No Ways Tired), Lester Chambers, Earl King, Jimmy Castor and many more. Cutler has also worked with jazz greats David Sanborn, Bill Frisell, Lester Bowie, Charlie Hunter, and Wayne Horvitz to name a few, as well as artists as diverse as Meatloaf, Jeb Loy Nichols, David Fanshawe, Sweet Georgia Brown, and Jimmy Dale Gilmore. In more recent years Cutler has worked with Alexis Suter and Garland Jefferies as well as keeping himself busy touring with his own group and playing and recording with a wide variety of artists in and around New York City.
Cutler’s first two releases, *“Trio Music”* on Fountainbleu records and *“Insignia” *on the Naim label, showcased the identifiable sound that Cutler developed by combining R&B, jazz, melody and noise. With his 3rd release, “So* "Many Streams”* (Fountainbleu), Cutler gets back to basics by digging into the blues and American roots. Cutler's 4th release titled *"Trio Live" *features Cutler's guitar prowess in an incredible live performance. His 5th release titled *"After Hours"*, finds Cutler paying tribute to his jazz and soul roots. His 2017 critically acclaimed release titled* "Every Sunday Night" *is a studio recording that captures Cutler's working band that has a standing Sunday night residency at Arthur's Tavern in New York City's Greenwich Village. Cutler is supported by his working band organization including Bobby Harden vocals, Nick Semrad organ, Jullian Pollack organ, Chulo Gatewood bass, Bill McClellan drums and JT Bowen vocal.
In 2018 Cutler was invited to perform on the last European tour of Queen Esther Marrow and the Harlem Gospel Singers. Cutler has been a band member since 2012. Gospel music fans came out to see this legendary performer who received critical acclaim along with a number of notable mentions of Stew's soulful guitar stylings.
In 2019 Cutler can be found on the soundtrack of Martin Scorsese's latest film "The Irishman''. Cutler is performing the standard "How High The Moon". Cutler's recognizable sound evokes a dreamlike mood which fits the scene perfectly and is one of the musical highlights in the film. Also in 2019 Cutler was cast as part of the soundtrack for the streaming Amazon TV series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. An American comedy/drama set in the late 1950's portraying a New York housewife who finds she has a knack for comedy. You can hear Cutler's playing on the soundtrack of season 2 and 3 in season 4 episode, Cutler was on camera as well as the soundtrack, featured in the strip club house band, The Wolford Band.
Recently Cutler released his latest recording, "*The Blues From Another Angle*." A critically acclaimed eclectic mix of originals and a few covers featuring legendary guitarist Mike Stern and master harmonica player, James Montgomery. This could be Cutlers' finest recording to date. *The Blues From Another Angle* showcases a room full of top-notch musicians including drummer Bill McClellan, keyboardist Tom Wilson, bassists Booker King and Chulo Gatewood, saxophonist Steve Elson plus vocalists Bobby Harden and Mary Jean Cutler. Also showcasing their prowess on the album are guest artists Mike Stern blazing through a guitar solo on “Blews” and James Montgomery making the harmonic sing on “Say What You Mean.” Among the many highlights on *The Blues From Another Angle*, most of which were written or co-written by Cutler, are: the scorching "Night Shift Blues", which also features Cutler on lead vocals; a fiery cover of Tyrone Davis’ mega-hit “Can I Change My Mind” featuring Bobby Harden on the microphone; the deliciously rhythmic “Get It While You Can” featuring Mary Jean Cutler on lead vocals; a soulful instrumental, “The Passing of RR Moore,” that pays tribute to the late comedian-actor-singer Rudy Ray Moore; and the jazzy album-closer “Shine or Rain.”
As a guitarist composer and storyteller, Stew Cutler's journey is a testament to the tranformative power of music, bridging genres with his unmistakable soulful sound.