Photos: Rudy Lu

Cliff Brucker’s quintet of old friends and colleagues played for an appreciative noontime crowd for the second concert of the Jazz on Jay concert series. They played two swinging sets of mostly standards. Mostly from the 50s and early 60s during bebop’s and postbop’s heyday.

Cliff is also a music professor, introduced the songs and included the background of the songs and when they were originally played. His drumming and the propulsive bass of Rich Syracuse kept the band swinging. The front line of Cliff Lyons on alto and Chris Pasin on trumpet played wonderful unison choruses and traded solos with equal aplomb (Incidentally Cliff Lyons is a touring member of the Average White Band. Chris Pasin toured with the Buddy Rich Band and has played with a roster of jazz greats). Larry Ham’s piano added color to the melodies (Larry’s resume is just as impressive, he is presently a professor at Bard College).

Opening with “Freddie Freeloader” and “So What” from Miles Davis’ seminal album from the period “Kind of Blue”, the band covered Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Horace Silver, Blue Mitchell as well played a Chris Pasin original “Meter Made”based on the funky rhythms of the NOLA band the Meters. The closing tune was the standard that dates from the ‘30s, “Just Friends”. A nice closer for the musicians and the audience, many of whom are friends. Next week’s musical event will be the Michael Benedict Jazz Vibes. Check out photos from the show below:

Setlist:

Freddie Freeloader, So What, Fried Bananas, Meter Made, Night Has A Thousand Eyes, Joy Spring, Something Like This, Step Lightly, Nica’s Dream, Just Friends

Gallery: