Rick Cutler | "The Unfolding"

Keyboardist, drummer, and composer for Dateline NBC, Later TODAY, the theme for the NY Yankees: Rick Cutler, Releases: ‘The Unfolding.’ The album combines different sized groups of musicians, including solo piano, duo, trio as well as a quintet. With a wide range of styles such as jazz, new age, and piano, with 12 new original compositions, including a cover of synth-pioneer Thomas Dolby’s “Airwaves,” using vocal, keyboards, and spoken word, as well as “Butterfly” by Tokyo-based guitarist Hiroki Endo. “Exit’ reunites his fusion band from the ‘70s that toured with Gloria Gaynor as her backing band and opening act, with pianist Mark Soskin, Sonny Rollins’ pianist and renowned jazz drummer Billy Mintz. 

Rick has been playing drums since the age of 5 and keyboards since his teens, studying at Julliard School with Chick Corea. Performing in Broadway shows including Hair, The Wiz, Candide, They're Playing Our Song, Woman of the Year and Seesaw, Ray has composed music for TV, including the Emmy-nominated theme for Dateline NBC, Later Today on NBC, the theme for the New York Yankees on the MSG network and the Outlaws & Lawmen mini-series on the Discovery channel.

Touring as keyboardist and drummer for Liza Minnelli, Ray performed in her Tony-winning Broadway show, "Liza's At The Palace.” For 18 years, he served as keyboardist and musical director for Gregory Hines and "Boom," performed at the nationally-televised Gala For The President and Mrs. Clinton. He also composed the music for The Gregory Hines Show on CBS and was one of the original percussionists for Leonard Bernstein's "Mass," for the opening of the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

The 7 solo piano pieces include Hymns 5, 6 & 7, Whisper Of A Memory, a soft piece called "Lullaby For Chris" as well as "Irish Prelude" and "Vienna Walking Streets" that evokes Rick's memories of those places. "Dusk Over The Antique Shop" creates a mood of an antique shop just about ready to close for the day using the trio instrumentation of Rick, Emedin Rivera on percussion and David Katzenberg on acoustic bass. The rest are a jazz vein using both electric and acoustic instrumentation. "A Walk In Rio" and "Straight & Bent" feature former Sonny Rollins pianist, Mark Soskin and "Exit" features acclaimed jazz drummer, Billy Mintz. Ray has released 5 albums of original compositions blending jazz, classical, new age and folk music.

His music is available on iTunes, Amazon and other digital outlets. Upcoming projects include a digital album of electronic music, an album of children's music accompanying poetry and a documentary about the life of writer Elmore Leonard.

Some of the artists Rick has performed and recorded with include Michael Franks, Noel Pointer, Stevie Van Zandt, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Don Rickles, Billy Eckstine, Gloria Gaynor, Rodney Dangerfield, Regis Philbin, Donna Summer, Pete Seeger, Larry Coryell, Jon Lucien, Johnny Hartman, Savion Glover, Perry Farrell (of Jane's Addiction), Richie Stotts (of the Plasmatics), Charles Aznavour and the NY Philharmonic Brass Quintet. His first CD release, Sanctuaries, received praise from musicians such as Mike Garson (former keyboardist for David Bowie) and Mark Soskin (pianist for Sonny Rollins). A video for Yar, directed by Spike Lee protege, Lee Davis was also released and can be seen on YouTube.