Charlie Cutten

Clean, Open Sounds

Jim Hurst, IBMA Guitar Player of the Year 2001, 2002, 2003

Charlie Cutten has recorded a collection of original works that makes the listener feel at ease, but attentive. The clean open sounds of his Martin D_35 guitar lure anyone to close their eyes and 'feel' the music, although I'm sure he wouldn't be responsible for anyone driving while listening! I did, I closed my eyes and looked for the colors, hues, and visual imagery and absorbed the emotions of his CD 'Basic Transportation.'

I had fun listening to the melodies, phrasing, chordal ideas and unbridled artwork that is so evident on this recording. I also enjoyed the different musical combinations that he used to illuminate his compositions. At times the arrangements and interplay are understated and breathy to allow the ambience to surround the listener and make relaxing a blessing, and other times it is a fun co-op effort to make you want to move, get up and have a cup 'o joe and greet the day.

The entire CD is produced from a 'less is more' approach, and I love it! I can't say any one song is my absolute favorite as I enjoy the entire collection. 'Late Bloomer Blues' is a lazy summer afternoon ramble sort of groove, makes one want to be in Mississippi sipping a 'sweet' iced tea or Mint Julep. 'St. Ignatius' is an Irish-flavored tune, light and dancy. 'La Valse Pour Le Petit Prince' is a soothing waltz. And '3rd of July' is a song that might lead you to think about the day before the first day of the rest of our country's life.

'Basic Transportation' is a recording not controlled or manipulated by commercial flavored tinges or boxes. It is a free work of music that oddly enough just might offer commercial media some background music for ads or announcements. Ironic though it may be, good music just won't be held under any limiting categories, in my opinion. Nice work, Charlie!

A Smooth, Soulful Fingerstyle

Flagstaff Live, 2003

Guitarist Charlie Cutten plays with a smooth, soulful fingerstyle evoking everything from blues to classical music.

Sparklingly Recorded and Beautifully Performed

Briarwood , 2003

Basic Transportation features eleven instrumental Cutten originals, unobtrusively produced, sparklingly recorded, and beautifully performed by Charlie and friends. Several tunes are reflective and peaceful. Some are funky. Many evoke some kind of image in my mind.

For example, the strong melody in St. Ignatius makes me feel I'm walking through a meadow on a sunny day. Ahead of me, a troop of knights in polished armor are walking their horses towards a review stand. The queen drops a hankie. A minstrel band is playing this tune.

Or check out Late Bloomer Blues. This funky tune brings to my mind images of a late night session in the back room of some small club way down south. The air is smokey and the night is blue. You've been up waaaay too long, and have had a few too many. You're not necessarily drunk, but beautiful... Missy Raines' distinctive, growling bass voice adds tons of feel to this remarkable sonic experience.

I like the steering wheel photo that's reproduced on the CD and in the liner. It is likely the steering wheel of the same old red pickup truck depicted in other photos in the liner notes. (In one, Charlie, his guitar, and his infamous grin are riding barefoot in back.) The dashboard dials are round, echoing the circle of the steering wheel and the CD itself, making for a unique and unified composition. Some circles are small, some big. They're all different and have different purposes, but they fit together elegantly.

In the same way, Charlie's compositions are made of themes which are echoed and varied to make a cohesive statements and produce complete pictures. On the cuts in which Charlie has featured melody instruments, they add more than color to the picture ? they add their own variations to the themes.

Some tunes are peaceful and reflective, such as La Valse Pour Le Petit Prince which makes a beautiful lullaby. 3rd of July, featuring Heather Winkle's flute, is another. And some of the tunes are distinctly funky, like the title cut (which I just had to jam with) and Go Back You're Going The Wrong Way, in which Charlie's inspired fingerstyle guitar really shines. Throughout the CD, Charlie's instrumental dexterity, remarkable though it is, beautifully supports and never obscures his compositions.

Basic Transportation is provided in an unbreakable paper and plastic case, which is only appropriate since I think you'll be playing the CD a lot.

KZMU, Moab, Utah, December 2003

Charlie Cutten is a gifted tune writer and player whose relaxed command of his instrument and discerning selection of accompanists leaves the listener entranced and engaged. Never trite or needlessly flashy, the superb music emanates brilliantly from Charlie's D-35 guitar. Mr. Martin would be proud.

New-Sun, June 2003

The Charlie Cutten CD 'Basic Transportation' was released in March to rave reviews and enthusiastic response. If you like Michael Hedges, you’ll like Charlie Cutten.