4 stars

"Hilbert Circle Theatre Wood Room; Oct. 12.
4 stars

David Bellman and Ingrid Fischer-Bellman opened their Ronen chamber season — in a well-filled Wood Room — with both music composed in a Klezmer style and the actual, unadulterated stuff itself, the latter comprising the second half.

The Ronen's first half opened with Chris Rutkowski's three-movement Passages for Clarinet, Cello and Piano. Ronen first played this in 2004 when it was brand new. Rutkowski directs the third movement to open with a rhythmically repeated note with its D-string (just below middle C) damped by a right-hand finger — then later an E-string, creating yet another unusual percussive piano timbre (or color, if you prefer). I liked both and what went with it....The audience loved it all."

Tom Aldridge, "Review: Ronen Chamber Ensemble"
Nuvo, Oct. 13, 2010

4 stars

Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center University of Indianapolis Monday, March 22, 2010 Last Monday evening, New Century String Quartet celebrated ten years of friendship. Being a "birthday" party, the night's festive spirit was sustained by the quartet's joy at being together, and shone through in their exuberant music. Composer Chris Rutkowski's "Fireworks" piece from his Nocturnes was an excellent showcase for the dynamic of the group.

The piece started with the haunting chords of a nocturne; then flowed into a sinister movement representing the soaring path of a rocket. After the first initial burst of music, the piece became aleatoric in nature, giving the players free reign to play individually without coordinating with each other. In the end, after the brilliant individual bursts of music, the group returned to cohesion and finished triumphantly."

Joshua Hunt, "Review: New Century String Quartet"
NUVO, March 30, 2010

"The catalyst for So Many Stars was pianist and arranger Chris Rutkowski, who met Ramsey while she was working a job with the Tom Mullinix big band. “He said, ‘I really enjoy your voice and I think we could work really well together,’” Ramsey remembers. After playing a few shows together (along with bassist Frank Smith) and recording six tracks towards a possible record, the two decided to complete the album, and Rutkowski set about recruiting a drummer and saxophonist. Kenny Phelps signed on as drummer, and Bloomington-based saxophonist Tom Walsh rounded out the instrumentation.

The band approaches the 12 jazz and pop standards on the record with little embellishment, letting Ramsey go to work over simple but energetic arrangements. The jazz standards work best on the album: a rueful “Here’s That Rainy Day” recorded with only piano, and crisp, light and playful takes on up-tempo songs like “Avalon” and “Never Will I Marry.” ...it’s her intelligent and understated facility with those songs in the jazz corpus that makes So Many Stars an impressive debut."

Scott Shrager, "Heather Ramsey"
NUVO, November 26, 2008

"Bloomington's musical Tuesday was capped by premieres, five in two concerts. Because of scheduled overlap, I was able to experience just three of them.

A 7 p.m. faculty recital in Auer Hall given by faculty composer/pianist David Ward-Steinman offered four new works, of which a pair came early enough for me to hear before heading to the Musical Arts Center and an 8 o'clock program by the IU Wind Ensemble, which held a Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble, written by an alum of the university, Chris Rutkowski.

.....

Chris Rutkowski's new alto saxophone concerto was just one of several highlights heard during the IU Wind Ensemble concert, interestingly planned and ably led, as one expected, by Stephen Pratt. But it earned special plaudits for the imagination displayed in its content, the craftsmanship manifested in the orchestration, and the range of opportunities it gave the soloist, the gifted Thomas Walsh, who seemed to have a grand time as he headed into a musical vista that merged jazz and classical traditions and, as the composer states, provided an "emotional arc" that moved through "anger, loss, reflection, appreciation and celebration."

Peter Jacobi, "Music review: IU Wind Ensemble and David Ward-Steinman. Five premieres in two concerts overlap in one night of music"
Bloomington Herald-Times, March 27, 2008

"Last Tuesday the Ronen Chamber Ensemble capped its season by presenting...the debut performance of one of our own. Composer, jazz pianist, and University of Indianapolis faculty member Christopher Rutkowski just completed Passages, Trio for clarinet, cello and piano, and Ronen regulars David Bellman, Ingrid Fischer-Bellman, and Richard Ratliff gave the work its first life in sound...

With Passages, Rutkowski delivers another winner, repeating his 2002 success in this series. Our performers pulled from its first movement, "Halaka," some Mediterranean "orientalisms" coupled with a jazzy, bouncy feel, Bellman adding (purposefully) a few clarinet flutters to the mix. The composer's ensuing "Lament" begins with a lovely cello line which heads an ensemble progression with varying dynamics; it nonetheless remains movingly somber throughout. The contrasting final movement, "Dancing...on an Eight-Spoked Wheel," beams with optimism as Ratliff begins with a rhythmically repeated low D..."

Tom Aldridge, "Mystery and Debut"
Nuvo, May 26-June 4, 2004

"...This five-movement, ambitious, not-so-merely "diverting" piece proved the most interesting of this season's premieres by any sponsor in any venue I normally attend. Cast in an eclectic modernist mode, Rutkowski employs many sonic devices that work well into the musical fabric: An extended one-note violin harmonic and piano strings strummed-with-the-fingers with the pedal held are two examples, Anne Reynolds' solo flute work in the Prelude and Sarabande movement was especially ingratiating. Rutkowski...is to be commended for offering something new of estimable value, a seemingly all too rare occurrence."

"Another striking arrangement is young composer Chris Rutkowski's of "How Long Has This Been Going On" (he's studied with Corigliano) which has a longish intro full of suggestive Debussyan harmonies, and rich mid-register piano sonorities."

"The New York Voices didn’t quite come together last Saturday. Only music director Darmon Meader made it to the Jazz Kitchen, with three other NYV singers and their instrumental trio stranded in New York.

Still, in front of a hastily assembled rhythm section comprised of Chris Rutkowski on piano, Kenny Phelps on drums and Frank Smith on bass, Meader pulled off a heroic and humorous evening of standards and jazz classics. He sang and ripped off some virile tenor sax solos with exceptional rhythm support."

"On Sunday, June 17, the Cool City Swing Band of nine, with vocalist Shannon Forsell and Jimmy Guilford, gave a peppy set of pop, R&B and jazz standards with tight-swinging arrangements from leader Roy Geesa’s troops. Forsell did a perky rendition of “Route 66,” and Guilford sung, swung and scatted on an invigorating arrangement of “Take the A Train.” Both vocalists teamed up for a tongue-in-cheek rendering of “Gee Baby Ain’t I Good to You.”"