Rob Lester – www.talkinbroadway.com (October 2009)
EDDIE BRUCE – BRUCE ON BENNETT
Yes, tribute albums may be a dime a dozen, but here’s one well worth putting aside some dimes for. Without vocally resembling Tony Bennett, or awkwardly trying to, vocalist Eddie Bruce captures some of the legend’s taste, warmth and unpretentiousness, with splashes of the veteran singer’s style and stylings. Eddie, who has been doing this material as a cabaret act, has a smoother, brighter sound, with round tones but the sunniness and sincerity projected by his idol. Some tracks have moments that are clearly modeled on the original recordings/concert performances that fans will be very familiar with. For example, there’s the phrasing in “There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” down to the sort of whispered staccato lines, the way the arrangement builds to the big, sustained last note on “made” at the very end. He keeps Bennett’s sly but amiably easygoing attitude in the seduction in “What Are You Afraid Of?” and the Bennett choice to replace the lyric “put some records on” to specifically for romantic mood “put Sinatra on.” And in other places, there are little chuckles or pointed up words that distinctly recall what we’ve heard when we put the Bennett records on. This kind of thing is done rather judiciously so that things never start to sound slavishly adherent or overly predictable. Surely the blueprints and tempi are followed: nothing is wholly reinvented, but ever-ready Eddie more than freshens the brew.
Overall, Bruce on Bennett stands on its own as just a good singer doing good songs. For our musical theatre score fans, there are a few that have their roots in shows; “If I Ruled the World,” “I Got Rhythm” (where he lets his fine band, led by pianist Tom Adams, prove they got exactly that) and that old “Old Devil Moon” from that musical that’s wended its way back to the Great White Way, Finian’s Rainbow. You’ll also hear “Maybe This Time” (note to proofreader for the next printing: the writing credits for this and “For Once in My Life” are accidentally switched).
There’s something very refreshing about the Bruce sound and voice: clean, very pleasing to the ear, but with thought behind it. The phrasing is natural and he sounds involved and convincing throughout. I find myself very attracted to it, especially the tastefulness of the ballads “Emily” and “When Joanna Love Me,” conjuring up visual images and moods and avoiding mawkishness or melodrama. The simple-but-effective approach, trusting the material, is sure to bring a smile whether the mood created is sweet or bittersweet, whether the song is simply “Smile” or “The Shadow of Your Smile.”
- Rob Lester
That’s all for now, but warm up your ears for next time. We’re well into the autumn when the weather gets cooler but new releases start coming in hot and heavy. There will be lots to look at and listen to in the coming weeks.
