Career
His primary influences on vibraphone are Lionel Hampton and Red Norvo, while his piano playing is influenced by piano greats from both the jazz and blues worlds. Cocuzzi is originally from Maryland but is best known in the Washington, District of Columbia area. He also performs at jazz festivals nationwide (and sometimes in Europe).
While on tour, he has shared the stage with jazz musicians including Harry Allen, Houston Person, Eddie Locke, Barbara Morrison, Peter Appleyard, boogie-woogie piano great Bob Seeley, Howard Alden, Dick Hyman, John Pizzarelli, Johnny Frigo, Jake Hanna, Butch Miles, Russell Malone, Joe Wilder, Red Holloway, Bob Wilber, George Masso, Chuck Redd, and a host of others, including Louis Bellson, Barrett Deems, Snooky Young, Marshal Royal, Billy Butterfield, Milt Hinton, and Keter Betts.
Cocuzzi has played piano for Jimmy McCracklin, "Weeping" Tommy Brown, Jimmy "T-99" Nelson, Floyd Dixon, and Earl King. Cocuzzi"s piano influences include Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Meade Lux Lewis, Professor Longhair, National King Cole and Erroll Garner.
Cocuzzi has recorded with Randy Reinhart, Randy Sandke, Editor Polcer, Ken Peplowski, Allan Vaché, Dan Barrett, John Allred, Russian Phillips, Andy Stein, Skitch Henderson, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli, James Chirillo, John Sheridan, Johnny Varro, Milt Hinton, Philosophy Flanigan, Frank Tate, Editor Metz, Junior., Joe Ascione, and Daryl Sherman. On radio, Cocuzzi recorded a session for National Public Radio"s "Riverwalk: Live at The Landing" with the Jim Cullum Band.
lieutenant was a tribute to Benny Goodman, "The Swing Shift: Jazz on Late-Night Radio", and featured Allan Vaché on clarinet with Nicholas Payton on trumpet.
Foreign 15 years, he was the music director for the 219 Restaurant"s Basin Street Lounge in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. He was also music director for the Crystal City Jazz Celebration (from 2003 to 2006), a jazz party in the style of Dick Gibson"s Jazz Parties in Denver, Colorado.
