Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez & Ronnie Cuber - Way Back Home | WDR BIG BAND

**CD release on September 23, 2022** The WDR BIG BAND performs together with Steve Gadd (drums), Eddie Gomez (bass), Ronnie Cuber (baritone saxophone) and Bobby Sparks on keyboards the track "Way Back Home" by Wilton Felder in an arrangement by Michael Abene. The WDR BIG BAND is conducted by Michael Abene, who was principal conductor of the WDR BIG BAND Band for over 10 years. Produced as part of the CD production "Centerstage" at WDR Studio 4 (January 2022).
More about the WDR BIG BAND:
www.wdr-bigband.de
/ wdrbigband
Direction and guest soloists:
Michael Abene - direction and arrangements
Steve Gadd - drums
Eddie Gomez - bass
Ronnie Cuber - baritone saxophone
Bobby Sparks - Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes
Simon Oslender - piano
Bruno Müller - guitar
WDR BIG BAND
Johan Hörlén - alto saxophone
Karolina Strassmayer - alto saxophone
Malte Dürrschnabel - tenor saxophone
Paul Heller - tenor saxophone
Jens Neufang - baritone saxophone
Ludwig Nuss - trombone
Tim Hepburn - trombone
Andy Hunter - trombone
Mattis Cederberg - bass trombone
Andy Haderer - trumpet
Rob Bruynen - trumpet
Wim Both - trumpet
Ruud Breuls - trumpet
Arnd Richter - leader WDR Big Band
Joachim Becker - music producer
Christian Schmitt - recording producer
Walter Platte - sound engineer
Raimund Wunderlich - sound assistant
Carmen Braun - director / picture direction / camera
Leo Friedrich - picture direction / camera / editing
Julian Pfeil - picture direction / camera

[@bobblues1158]

Ronnie just passed. I am so glad to see this. Thank you:

[@SharpElevenMusic]

yes, this was the collab we really needed, may he rest in peace. Thanks for being the guideline in how a bari sax should sound to so many of us Ronnie 🙏

[@brucekuehn4031]

And thanks WDR for capturing these guys and releasing the album! What a documentation of seasoned talent!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙏Bruce!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙏Sharp!

[@yellowquantum4240]

RIP Ronnie !!

[@manuelmparis]

Those drums... Oh my Gadd!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😂 Manuel!

[@craigchapman8220]

Nailed it. I can even hear a Rochester, NY accent:)

[@jacksonrussellband]

I believe in Gadd!! 😂😂😂

[@fabriziovincitorio9377]

You're right, in Gadd we trust

[@tims.2832]

Gadd‘s drumming is steady as earth‘s path around the sun. It never hesitates, it’s unstoppable and there is a gravitational pull to it

[@za9393]

well said !!!!!!

[@zoltanolah9812]

great musican, i know his play from an Al di Meola album "Electric rendezvous"

[@jas_bataille]

@@zoltanolah9812 He played with everyone from Chick Corea to Eric Clapton.

[@dickburns9200]

You got that right! He’s about the best.

[@PirAnhaMe]

I love this analogy. Nicely put.

[@bdpyne]

Gadd’s solo starts slow. He outlines the groove. Progressively he gets more intense while never overplaying. Pure artist.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

👍True!

[@stuartdryer1352]

Steve Gadd always knows just what to do. Always.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Yes, Sir!

[@richardstandish2053]

He's not a magician...but a true MUSICIAN that is integrally par of a band. That HIS signature.

[@Carlos.Lizzoli]

What a pleasure to listen to this huge muscians. They sound perfect, with the right groove and swing. Steve Gadd is, for me, one of the best drummers ever. An example to follow, no matter which style I play. A big hug from Argentina!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you for your kind words, Carlos! Greetings to Argentina!

[@paulcombs-bomuse6172]

We miss you Ronnie. Thanks for all the beautiful music.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙏Paul!

[@Kinger1625]

Steve Gadd is one of the best drummers ever to pick up the sticks! His grooves and his solos are AMAZING! The whole band is perfect! Thanks for this so much! Ronnie was one of best!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you for watching and your kind words!

[@sonokajfumo3969]

Great musicians. Steve Gadd, as always, a master of his instrument. You can hear his incredible experience and musicality in every stroke.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you!

[@martingjsmith]

When I need something to lift my spirits, I listen to this!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Martin! Great, music can heal....

[@bongoloony]

Sad to hear of Ronnie’s passing…absolute legend.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

That is true, Jeff! It was a honour and pleasure to work with him!

[@hornblowers12]

RIP Ronnie, and thank you for all the inspiration you have given me over the years playing the Baritone Sax.

[@saxman8020]

This is such a wonderful "Pre-Tribute" !! Do not wait until People die - Let's celebrate NOW !!

[@I_M_Nonno]

It always amazes me how as musicians get more "seasoned", their music and their solos contain more and more space. Instead of trying to impress you with their prowess on the instrument, they have gone full circle and they are reducing the music to its essentials and are now making great music.

[@julientardan9188]

Couldn't have say better

[@PirAnhaMe]

Absolutely. I will never forget hearing an isolated track of later era, Miles Davis. It was all “squeaks, pops and duds”…. Until you put it into the context of the song… then it was musical perfection.

[@cheri238]

Beautiful Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez & Ronnie and musicians ❤️

[@saxman8020]

Wow ! I've never known this one ! Thanks so much because in the original (Yes - We all miss Richard T on that one for sure.), all were so young, like me 'back in the day'. Let me tell you - When I took up Bari Sax some years ago, and now until this day - I'm a major Ronnie Cuber Fan - and that's how I became a major Steve Gadd Fan !

[@1irishanml]

Omg. The beautiful funky sounds coming out of these people. Amazing. Blown away.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you, 1irishanml!

[@alanfurlong-drummer4419]

Good Gadd that was awesome 🎉

[@jimvanwinkle111]

Dang, that was Groovy. !!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thanx, Jim!

[@MOUTHWATERINGVEGANTV]

I (Jonathan Sorrell) was so fortunate to have recorded with both Steve Gadd and Eddie Gomez, together with guitarist Hugh McCracken and Toots Thielmans, on a Philippe Sarde film score in Paris, along with the Orchestra de Paris. I was playing keyboards and Synclavier. I even had the honour of giving Steve Gadd a lift to the studios in the morning from his hotel. Such an unassuming guy, really pleasant, and the ultimate professional. The film music was great, but the best moments were in the break when Toots picked up a guitar and jammed with Steve Gadd and Eddie Gomez - wish I'd recorded it !! Thanks all you guys for all the pleasure you give us 🙏🙏🙏

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you for sharing your story with us!

[@gordoh7634]

The entire composition is just amazing. I love what Bobby Sparks does with a Hammond B3. But, being a college drummer... Steve Gadd can find the pocket and also blow you away with his chops. He can play any style. And I cannot say that about some of the greatest drummers of all time.

[@jas_bataille]

You're not a "college drummer". You are a drummer...! Period :)

[@MatNewtonTrio]

Superb. Rest in Peace Ronnie. ❤

[@miloscoopy2469]

WDR horns are amazing.. and with Gadd's drumming, just wowww

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Milo! Thank you!

[@axeman2638]

Yeah, superb intonation and tight as.

[@ronojoysen5324]

At last - one fleeting glimpse of the great Eddie Gomez. Inexplicable.

[@DougSmithBass]

Amen

[@roloduarte3100]

Wow! what a song, Steve Gadd is such an inspiration, seeing him at his age playing strong is so cool.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Rolo! Thank you!

[@WireleesWorld]

Steve Gadd. I just love that drumming ❤

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Welcome to our channel and thank you, NewEarthWorld!

[@garyrynar3308]

A lesson in groove.. Gadd doesn't have to play a million notes to show how great he is.. oh b t w 77 years old.. 5*****

[@WDRBIGBAND]

👍Gary!

[@ferguscurrie5937]

RIP one of the true giants! Ronnie was, for me, the ultimate baritone sound! Especially his work with Randy Brecker was astronomic! Thank you WDR for this wonderful video.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi fergus! Thank you for watching us!

[@waynejrice]

Beautiful transparency. For Cuber, to want to say something, much less have something sublime to offer at 79 years old is priceless. It gives me hope. For Gadd, well's he the gold standard--still.

[@Delusional176]

I hope I can still play when I'm their age...Sucks to see the greats getting old.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Derik! Why pity, - with the day of our birth it is certain that we age. There is nothing pity about it....only in our mind.

[@Sharing13]

Damn that felt great thanks guys for the first class playing by all players!!!!!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Spence! Thank you for watching us!

[@anthonywhite6530]

Nice sax solo. Steve Gadd is amazing

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Anthony! Welcome to our channel and thank you!

[@aaronsearle4307]

Rest In Peace Ronnie Cuber

[@andrewsandoz8005]

And Cornell Dupree.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

True, Andrew!

[@anothernewworld9650]

@andrewsandoz8005. No disrespect to Cornell (RIP), but where’s the relevance? Cornell is not on this recording, and he didn’t play on the original either. Why mention him in this context?

[@dieterwaldrich8902]

​@@andrewsandoz8005üüüüüüäääääüäääääüüäüüääääääääääääääääüäüääääüüü

[@ratamacueseven]

Superb !!!! Gadd - Creative EXCELLENCE !!!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi John! Thanx!

[@luisbaterialghl]

Tha great Steve Gadd!!!

[@frederickhill7181]

Ronnie's breath control is starting to show hi age but there is no doubting his soul. What heroism!

[@christophermitchum6829]

Flams...paradiddles,. Ouch! Straight up fon-kay...and the baritone sax put a slice on the pie💯🤟👆🎶😎💖

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Christopher! True!

[@parks-music-cafe]

Wow!!!! Excellent performance. I like this kid of music. I really enjoyed your music. Thank you for sharing nice music. Good night !!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi 박영헌의!Thank you for watching us!

[@alexandrahalpern1184]

Just what the universe knew I needed to lighten my spirit. Thank you 😊 ❤🎉

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Oh wow, great that our music lightened your spirit, Alexandra!

[@martingjsmith]

This is absolutely wonderful music!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙌Martin!

[@lessonwithcraig]

So, you could sense I was needing a Grove to get me going this morning… So Grateful… Thanks, I Got This 👍🏻😁 TGIF… ✌🏻❤️🇺🇸 😎

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Craig! Hopefully our groove is helping every morning:)

[@pdpdesign2508]

Thank you WDR for all your gems!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi PD! Thanx for watchin us!

[@armystrong2727]

Gadd is a beast not a flashy solo but great in the art of pocket and simplicity

[@noahpettibon]

Very tough to see Ronnie looking like that. But still he sounds like Ronnie, man. Very emotional.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙏Noah!

[@yellowquantum4240]

I am so touched!! Gadd gang so many memories and all magical. Thank you for this historic gem!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Yellow! Thank you for watching us!

[@imbees2]

Baby baby baby baby now. Great music and great instrument playing

[@HansBaier]

I really enjoyed it. Great feel ❤️

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you, Hans!

[@DougSmithBass]

What a brilliant idea putting these legends together w/ your perfect Band !

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you, DougSmithBass!

[@__Chey__]

Love it !!!! So great!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Romain! Thanx!

[@carlosfeliz6569]

Oír y ver a míster cuber me recuerda a sus días de colaborador de eddy palmieri y otros músicos de nuestra música latina loor eterno para el y felicidades a wdr por compartir esta joya gracias desde República Dominicana 👏 👏 👏

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Carlos! ¡Mis mejores deseos para la República Dominicana y gracias por mirar...!

[@jcsk8]

BRILHANT! Hey, young drummers. Have you seen? That are chops! Spaces, timing, breath and sweet notes with groove and good taste. Less is more.

[@DougSmithBass]

Exactly!

[@ROBYRH4]

Steve gadd the King drums❤️

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙌B!

[@brassperson]

🥁Pleasant aftertaste after delicious music.🎷

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😊 Вадим!

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

Gadd is smooth as butter. As usual!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😎Ikken!

[@planschochse]

Erste Sahne! Erfahrene Männer zeigen hier, wie kraftvoll und spielerisch ein Arragement klingen kann. Höre dies zum x-ten Mal.

[@1981TURBOTRANSAM1]

Good Gaaaaadd Almighty! 💪💪💪👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😊🚀,1981TURBOTRANSAM1!

[@Stiller64]

Die Besten mit dem Besten. Wie cool!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😎Thomas!

[@samlagreca9283]

Thanks for sharing! Awesome ❤️

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thank you for watching, Sam!

[@PedroMaggioni_]

o começo soa delicado igual a essa linda mulher com o seu sopro! que som, inacreditavel!

[@khboehm1]

Welch eine wunderbare Kombination mit dieser Bigband!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Karl-Heinz! Dankeschön!

[@pjpj2639]

Great drummer

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thanx, Pj!

[@MikeFloutier]

Love it, the conducting was very cool too! 🥁🍾❤️

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thanx, Mike!

[@paulbradley8654]

OMG!!Eddie Gomez!!

[@mrjohnstgeorge]

Solid. Gadd Solid.

[@miropopradi]

Wow ! Beautiful

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Miro! Thanx!

[@gillucas5305]

poxa coisa linda de se ver e ouvir.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thanx, Gil!

[@imbees2]

Blau that bass sax. Yes indeed

[@RolaHoh]

That goes straight into the bones

[@WDRBIGBAND]

True, RolaHoh!

[@SwissJacques1963]

Sehr sympathisch, dass alle Mitwirkenden genannt werden! Herrn Abene besten Dank für die zahlreichen aussseridischen Arrangements - das ist mehr Kompositionsarbeit. Unvergessen die Arrangements um Roy Hargrove. WDR Big Band vielen Dank für euer Können. Stets ein besonderer Genuss!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Danke dir für die herzlichen Worte, DE!

[@DougSmithBass]

been following Mike Abene since his early days w/ Maynard .. VERY HIP SOLOS WAY AHEAD OF HIS TIME !

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙌 DougSmithBass!

[@grooveclinic]

Steve.......🙏🏻🥁💕💕💕

[@galinakrivulin6767]

Thank you. Enjoying as usual. Catching up.Shiny morning.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Galina! Thank you!

[@KevbSka]

Just wow bravo. 🎶👏

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Kevin! Thank you!

[@SilentDrumbeat]

Awesome !

[@user-se5um3vo7p]

Ahhhhh bravo♡

[@mikebryant4146]

Good rockin’ y’all !

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙏 Mike!

[@andreasdurrschmidt5321]

beeindruckend, lässig, eigentlich wie immer. Halleluja

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙌 Andreas!

[@marioanselmoruiz4374]

Que onda maravilhoso abrazos para todos eles

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Gracias, Mario!

[@SwissJacques1963]

Tears!

[@normalizedaudio2481]

Old Gadd is crossing over now.

[@davereid-daly2205]

Wow !!! Extraordinary !

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Thanx, Dave!

[@CornetBlues]

Wow this is different gravy!👏👏👏

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi CornetBlues! True!

[@aaronreeves8376]

Awesome!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Aaron! Thank you!

[@MrDerado]

Sempre um arrazo !!!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi João! Obrigado!

[@iengineer_247]

This is a tight remake!!!! I like the one with Joe Sample and Gerald Albright that came out some years ago!!!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@WDRBIGBAND]

👍 IEngineer_247! Welcome to our channel!

[@j.clovisdattoli8028]

Sensacional. Vou repercutir no meu blog!!!

[@WDRBIGBAND]

👍J.!

[@Riedel777]

Fantastic! 👌🎵🎶🎵🎶

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Dankeschön, Hans-Jörg!

[@bodgaard]

Pure class

[@AudioPervert1]

the age of syncopation, pocket, chops and delivery.. all four..viva señor Gadd

[@WDRBIGBAND]

👍

[@nikupf]

Oh my Gadd!

[@tonymarino7391]

Fantastic.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Tony! Thanx!

[@willex13]

Title knows Way Back Home ,thx Ronnie hear you again in heaven

[@giovanninoventa6354]

Fantastic groove

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Giovanni! Thanx!

[@TexasGit]

This is the most badass thing i've heard in quite some time.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

😎 TexasGit!

[@lauracastilloruiz9471]

Geniales 👏👏👏👏😘❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😘

[@WDRBIGBAND]

👍 laura!

[@nicolafranzoso]

Super ..... super

[@TheHansen01]

I had the great honor of having a private lesson with Ronnie back when I was an undergrad student in 2013. I still have the gmail email thread saved with him. I can't believe he's gone. I'm a bit late here, but still can't process it. They say you shouldn't meet your heroes: they were wrong. The man was a jazz giant yet generous with his time. I guess all I can say is RIP to the best.

[@WDRBIGBAND]

Hi Hansen! Thank you for your story! R.I.P. forever Ronnie!

[@marcguillot3843]

Excellent,bravo👍

[@WDRBIGBAND]

🙏Marc!

[@GregsGuitars]

puh.. da hätte ich beim Drum-Solo an Brunos Stelle schon den ein oder anderen Angsschweiß verspüren können... :-) Er hat den Auftrag dann perfekt und lässig erledigt. Klasse!

[@dominiquebrunet9833]

Grandiose !