Adrian Cunningham

Adrian Cunningham is an Australian-born New York clarinetist, saxophonist, flutist, vocalist, bandleader, and recording artist working across swing and modern jazz.

ClarinetSaxophoneFluteVocalist4 current shows

Photo source · Official artist media

Career Overview

About Adrian Cunningham

Cunningham's official biography and agency profile identify him as a Sydney-born multi-instrumentalist based in New York since 2008. They document clarinet, saxophone, flute, vocals, recording work, and performances with groups led by Wycliffe Gordon and other New York bandleaders.[1][2]

His projects span modern small-group recordings for Arbors Records and Professor Cunningham and His Old School, the New Orleans and swing ensemble he formed in 2012. The latter combines reeds and vocals with configurations from trio through big band.[1][3][4]

Ensembles and Career Threads

Bands & Projects

Founder, reed player, and vocalist

Professor Cunningham and His Old School

Formed 2012

The official band guide documents a New York ensemble moving among New Orleans jazz, early swing, rhythm and blues, and big-band formats.[3]

Leader and multi-instrumentalist

Arbors Records leader catalog

Arbors' collection spans Cunningham's songbook projects, original small-group records, collaborations, and Old School releases.[4]

Reed player and recording leader

Wycliffe Gordon collaborations

Cunningham's biography documents work in Gordon's International All Stars, while two selected leader records feature Gordon as a guest.[2][5][7]

Selected, Not Exhaustive

Recordings to Know

2014 · Arbors Records

Ain't That Right! The Music of Neal Hefti

Leader, saxophonist, clarinetist, and flutist

Arbors documents Cunningham leading a quintet with Wycliffe Gordon on selected tracks through a program of Neal Hefti compositions.[5]

Release details

2019 · Arbors Records

Adrian Cunningham & His Friends Play Lerner & Loewe

Leader, clarinetist, saxophonist, and flutist

The label credits Cunningham with Fred Hersch, John Hébert, Eric McPherson, Randy Brecker, and Wycliffe Gordon on the songbook session.[6]

Release details

2024 · Arbors Records

It's About Time

Leader, composer, and multi-instrumentalist

Cunningham's original-focused session documents tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute, electric clarinet, and piano with David Kikoski, Yasushi Nakamura, Clarence Penn, and Wycliffe Gordon.[7]

Release details

Artist-Authorized Destinations