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Reminiscing In Tempo - Bruce Klauber

Bruce Klauber Book CoverBruce Klauber is the award-winning biographer of jazz drummers Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa in books and on Warner Brothers films, jazz columnist and journalist, public relations consultant and concert promoter, record producer with Fresh Sound and Dot Time Records, Technical Adviser on the Academy Award-winning film "Whiplash,"  and jazz drummer, singer and recording artist for more than 50 years, playing with Charlie Ventura, Milt Buckner, Peggy King, Joanie Sommers, Al Grey, Buddy Greco, Pepper Adams and dozens of others.  With Andy Kahn, he is the co-founder of The All-Jazz Trio, now celebrating 46 years as one of the world's longest, continuously-playing jazz ensembles.  

 

By way of incisive interviews, tributes, remembrances and eye-opening anecdotes about his personal association with everyone from Frank Sinatra and Lou Rawls to Mel Torme and Norman Mailer, this book chronicles Bruce Klauber's incredible, five-plus decades as an author, acclaimed filmmaker, jazz journalist and columnist, talent scout, editor, public relations consultant, jazz drummer, singer, multi-instrumentalist and recording artist. Frank Sinatra on Bruce Klauber: "It is quite obvious you are an educated student of American popular music, and your knowledge of some marvelous and memorable years in America's musical history is truly impressive. Your warm words supporting my music and my efforts as a musician honor me and touched me deeply."

 

This Hal Leonard/Centerstream title is available worldwide via amazon.com and wherever books are sold.

 

PJP spoke with drummer, composer, journalist and biographer, Bruce Klauber about his work and his new book, Reminiscing in Tempo.


PJP: Can you briefly describe your musical direction?

 

Bruce Klauber: My goals have been the same since 1961: To swing, to electrify the ensemble, whatever the  genre' or size of the group; to inspire the soloist; and  and through projection and showmanship, hopefully bring some people to the world of jazz who might not have appreciated it before.  


PJP: What and whom are pivotal musical influences on your creative approach? 

 

Bruce Klauber 3Bruce Klauber: Drummers: Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Jake Hanna, Mel Lewis. Singers: Ella, Sinatra, Mel Torme', Louis Armstrong, Joanie Sommers.  Major overall influences: Charlie Ventura, Milt Buckner, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, Lennie Tristano, Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, Bernard Peiffer. And I must say that pianist, Andy Kahn, my personal and professional colleague of 56 years, always plays his ass off. Andy Kahn knows. These people are my life.


PJP: Tell us about your new book, “Reminiscing in Tempo: Farewells and Recollections of Showbiz, Jazz and Drums.” 

 

Bruce Klauber: It's a collection of essays about those in the business I've admired, tributes to those we've lost, and my personal associations through the years with those in jazz and in show business.  It's important to remember that, like it or not, jazz and show business have always been connected.  Bottom line is that we all want to entertain people. Some don't.  Some do.

PJP: Can you explain your process and the steps that led to this book?   

 

Bruce Klauber: We are losing more beautiful cats every day and I knew a bunch of them,  so I went back into the vaults and gathered several decades worth of previously-published essays about those we've lost and those who are still here--everyone from Phil Woods to Lou Rawls and some Philly people as well, obtained the rights to re-publish them, and added a bunch of new material about my jazz and showbiz exploits over the past several years.

PJP: What advice would you give the audience to assist with greater understanding and enjoyment, when reading your book?  

 

Bruce Klauber: Simple.  Listen to the artistry of some of those referenced in the book, whether it's Buddy Rich or Chuck Berry or Pepper Adams or Frank Sinatra, Jr. Or come in and hear me play or sing.  Then, read the book. But, buy it first.

PJP: As a musician, how do you manage the task of creating and encouraging fresh, new, forwarding moving musical ideas while simultaneously exploring, celebrating and documenting the past?   

 

Bruce Klauber 2Bruce Klauber: There is no old or new.  Every night is new.  Every night is an adventure.  Are Basie, Monk, Bird and Pops old? They are timeless. Is Cecil Taylor new? Cecil is doing what Lennie Tristano did in 1948. With our All-Star Jazz Trio, a group that's been playing together for for 50 years, pianist Andy Kahn, bassist Bruce Kaminsky and yours truly simply play what we feel.  Maybe we feel like playing "out."  Maybe we feel like playing Dixieland.  It's all new. Creation is new.

PJP: Why Jazz? When you could be doing anything else, Why this music?

 

Bruce Klauber: Jazz is spontaneous composition.  To me, there is no higher level of creativity.  As a kid, I always dug the fact that everybody--no matter what their age, race, religion, musical style, or what they ate for breakfast yesterday--could all come together with one thing in mind:  To wail. Frankly, I'm not seeing enough of that today.

 

 

Check Out Bruce Klauber At Work With The All-Star Trio
 

 

 

BRUCE KLAUBER'S UPCOMING EVENTS:

 

The All-Star Jazz Trio [Featuring Bruce Klauber] continues into its fifth year every Wednesday night at Square On Square Restaurant / 19th & Chestnut Street, Phila., PA 19103 / Phone: 215-568-0088

 

At Dino's Backstage*

287 Keswick Avenue, Glenside, PA 19038 / Phone: 215-884-2000 [Next to the Keswick Theater]

 

*FRIDAY, APRIL 13th, 8:30pm:

Bruce Klauber Sings & Swings Frank Sinatra, w/ The Tom Adams Trio

 

*SATURDAY, APRIL 14th, 7:30 & 9:30pm:

AJ Lambert Sings the Songs of Her Grandfather, Frank Sinatra

 

*SUNDAY, APRIL 15th, 7:30pm:

Eddie Bruce Celebrates Frank Sinatra, w/ The Tom Adams Trio

 

 

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Philadelphia Jazz Project is a sponsored project of the Culture Trust | Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Philadelphia Foundation.

 

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Philadelphia Jazz Project is a sponsored project of the Culture Trust | Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Philadelphia Foundation.