After years of performing together with a variety of different groups, the Jim Cutler Quartet came together in 2000 to provide a more creative and collaborative setting for developing original material and creating their own performance style. With Brian Olendorf on piano, Philip Demaree on bass, and Chris Monroe on drums, the group has appeared regularly in Seattle clubs and concert venues.
“…a group that takes interest in a great variety of music and that is technically accomplished enough to perform whatever they wish.” — Don Williamson, JazzReview.com
“For Real is straight down the middle of the fairway. The solo time taken by Cutler and largely Olendorf is relatively brief, but there is plenty of time to appreciate their talent on this 68 minute album.”
Michael P. Gladstone, All About Jazz
Visit the Recordings page to see all albums by The Jim Cutler Quartet.
Personnel
Brian Olendorf (piano)
Brian earned a Bachelor of Arts, a Masters of Music in Composition, and performed post-graduate work in computer music at Stanford University. He composed and had performed a ballet at the age of 18, and has been playing professionally for over 30 years in many musical styles and situations, including jazz, classical, shows and rock settings. He’s worked with the likes of Urbie Green, John Hendricks, Billy Barty, Steve Miller, Michael Murphy, Bob Hope, Jim Stafford, Pat Boone, and Tennessee Ernie Ford.
When Brian isn’t playing music, he’s listening great works by, Bartok, Boulez, Ellington, and Herbie Hancock.
Philip Demaree (bass)
A native of Boulder, Co, he attended the University of Northern Colorado under Gene Aitken. After several years touring the US and Canada and appearing with such artists as Ray Charles, The Mills Brothers, Dianne Schuur, Joe Williams, and John Gary, he currently resides in Unincorporated Snohomish County with his lovely wife, Kathleen. He appears regularly in the Seattle area with Roadside Attraction, an 18-piece big band, and vocal trio Trish, Hans and Phil. He can also be found at Demarama.
Chris Monroe (drums)
Chris has performed with a wide variety of artists, including Lily Tomlin, Marvin Hamlisch, Dionne Warwick, the Bolshoi Ballet, the American Ballet Theater, Little Anthony, the Drifters and the 5th Dimension. He has performed with the national tours of City of Angels, Victor/Victoria, Titanic, Ragtime and Saturday Night Fever. He toured the mid and northwest with the New York touring production of Porgy and Bess and performed on Broadway with Do Jump Extremely Physical Theater. A veteran of many local jazz groups and theater shows, Chris can be heard on numerous TV and radio commercials, and the film soundtracks for the Newton Boys, Dennis the Menace strikes again and Barney’s Big Adventure.