Tony Cuda

Herding Jazz Cats

(self-released)

reverbnation.com/tonycuda

A social studies teacher at Shaker Heights High School, Berklee-educated electric bass player Tony Cuda is a staple on the local jazz scene. He spends most of his free time working with the prog-leaning outfit Cuda, Renko & Cuda but has worked on this solo album for several years. It opens with a breezy cover of the Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood” and then offers a little bit of everything. Cuda goes for a big band sound on the original tune “15 Bars” and gets funky on “Toy’s Effin Blues” and “Lick Me,” two original numbers. With backing from some of the region’s best local jazz players, Herding Jazz Cats is a strong effort that has such an accessible approach it will even appeal to purists and non-purists alike.

Tony Cuda performs at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 25 at Rockefeller’s in Cleveland Heights.

This article appears in Jul 23-29, 2014.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.