Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Cliff Brucker: Full Circle Vol. 2

Cliff Brucker: Full Circle Vol. 2

By Don Phipps
October 4, 2018
View read count

On Full Circle Vol 2, Albany, New York-based drummer

Cliff Brucker

" data-original-title="" title="">Cliff Brucker and friends reach back to the swing and bop jazz periods to showcase their talents on a set of first-rate standards. These musicians clearly understand the bop trade and what emerges from their collective knowledge is solid and assured music. The entire affair is like a stroll around a familiar block. The arrangements have an early-60s feel. Think of a party with the Rat Pack.

Brucker's steady and solid pacing anchors the music; his well-timed rolls and snare smacks emphasize the swing and bop beats. He is joined by saxophonist

Leo Russo

" data-original-title="" title="">Leo Russo, trumpet/flugelhorn player

Dylan Canterbury

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Dylan Canterbury (who penned the title cut), guitarist

Mike Novakowski

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Novakowski and bassist

Otto Gardner

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Otto Gardner. Brucker uses two pianists on the album.

Larry Ham

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Ham plays on eight numbers and Pet Levin three.

Strong playing from Russo and Canterbury buoy the tunes. Russo sounds like a cross between

Ben Webster

saxophone, tenor
1909 - 1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Webster and

Paul Desmond

saxophone, alto
1924 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Desmond, and in the Bennie Harris tune "Crazeology," a bit of

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker shines through. Canterbury's trumpet combines elements of

Louis Armstrong

trumpet and vocals
1901 - 1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Louis Armstrong and

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis.

Brucker receives fine contributions from the rest of his ensemble. Ham offers some bright and bluesy piano solos. Case in point—his work on the

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins's tune "Airegin." Gardner plays a nice solo on Klenner"s "Just Friends." And don't miss Novakowski's gentle blues chords on Claire Fischer's "Pensativa" and the licks he adds on the

Fats Navarro

trumpet
1923 - 1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Fats Navarro number "Nostalgia."

Even though Levin appears in only three numbers, he makes his time count. His work on the Bennie Golson tune "Step Lightly" consists of blues melodies and triplets that add excitement to the piece.

Levin also offers a dancing opening to Canterbury's "Full Circle," the highlight of the album. The happy tune features some tight playing between Russo's tenor and Canterbury's muted trumpet, and Russo offers a smooth and gliding solo. Gardner walks the bass while Brucker adds rhythmic flourishes underneath. The song suggests a boat ride across a lake, the scenery whistling by in a bright afternoon sun. As you dock and disembark for dinner, you may ask—where's Dino and a martini? Enjoy.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

The Song Is You; Airegin; Laura; Just Friends; Emily; Deception; Pensativa; Crazyology; Nostalgia; Step Lightly; Full Circle.

Personnel

Cliff Brucker

Cliff Brucker: drums; Leo Russo: tenor sax; Larry Ham: piano; Pete Levin: piano, Dylan Canterbury: trumpet, flugelhorn; Otto Gardner: bass; Mike Novakowski: guitar.

Album information

Title: Full Circle Vol. 2 | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Sco in Baton Rouge, Okazaki vs. Monk...
< Previous

Helsinki Songs
Next >

Cliff Brucker Concerts

Oct 17 Fri

Leo Russo Sextet

SUNY Schenectady County Community College
Schenectady, NY

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.