Live: Brucker – Weisse – Canterbury Jazz Orchestra @ The Linda, 07/21/2022

By Rudy Lu On Jul 22, 2022

ALBANY – Big band jazz was once a staple offering on the Nippertown jazz scene. It officially returned to the Nippertown stage after its absence during the Covid shutdown. The recently formed 16-member BWC (Brucker – Weisse – Canterbury) Jazz Orchestra played to a nearly full house at the Linda Thursday night.

The band was formed incidentally to play out the charts of the late Al Quaglieri Sr. at the request of his son Al Jr. and was met with wide success at their open rehearsals in Schenectady. Since then, the addition of other charts by internationally known big band arrangers led to this performance.

Although the band is under the joint leadership of Cliff Brucker (drums), Steve Weisse (trumpet), and Dylan Canterbury (trumpet), it was conducted by Canterbury, who is nationally known as an arranger and transcriber of big band charts.

If one came to the Linda exclusively to hear “the songs that Glen Miller played”, they would be surprised. The music ranged from “My Reverie”, a 1930s ballad based upon Satie’s 1890 solo piano piece, to an arrangement of Herbie Hancock’s funky hit from the 70s “Chameleon”. The age range of the musicians was wide, from senior members of the jazz community such as Brucker and Jim Corigliano, to young trumpeter Nate McKever.

The band went easy on the audience by opening with Dean Martin’s hit “Volare” (known by us baby boomers as the Chrysler ad from the 70s), moving onto the jazz standard “It’s You or Me”. The background of the oddly named “Tiptoes” (Gershwin) was explained by Canterbury as a musical composition about a husband tiptoeing to the refrigerator for a snack trying not to get caught but tripping and falling.

West coast jazz was prominently featured by Bill Hollman arrangements of “My Reverie” and Sonny Rollins’ ”Airegin”. A more contemporary feel and sound with different aural textures and rhythms was demonstrated by Thad Jones’ “Central Park North”.

The second set featured arrangements by pianist Peg Delaney, Bill Canterbury, and Jim Corigliano, with one arrangement by a 17-year-old student who was a member of the audience.

A preview of Peg Delaney’s Latin-based tune “My Tuna” was featured. (She will debut her own big band at A Place For Jazz in the fall). “Finish Up” by Dylan Canterbury was dedicated to former resident valve trombone player and big band leader Phil Allen. Ballad “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise” was given a dynamic band treatment that was far from soft! One of my personal big band favorites “Quintessence”, by a pre-TV show theme/Michael Jackson Quincy Jones was also featured.

There were solos by many members of the band, many of whom are also band leaders. Adam Siegel (soprano/alto), Nat McKeever (trumpet), Steve Weisse (trumpet), Jim Corigliano (tenor sax), Dave Fisk (alto sax), and Eric Carmiello (tenor sax), amongst others.

It was great to hear big band Jazz live again. If you missed this performance and enjoy big band, Keith Pray’s Big Soul Ensemble will be making its premiere post-Covid at the Cock n Bull Restaurant in Galway on July 26. BWC is planning more open rehearsals and future performances in the fall. Hope to see you there.