Cliff Brucker Full Circle featuring Leo Russo

From Cliff. on Full Circle:

This is my six piece jazz ensemble featuring world class musicians. We have two recordings out and are active in the concert and jazz club arenas.

Full Circle Vol. 1 and 2

Cliff Brucker Full Circle featuring Leo Russo Vol. 2

This project brings together once again world class musicians I have worked with over the past 35 years. The music on this CD is again interpretations of some of the classic jazz standards that musicians have been playing for decades plus one original composition written by our trumpet player entitled appropriately enough, "Full Circle"! I hope everyone will enjoy this very accessible and swinging recording!

The album of course features and celebrates the great sax player Leo Russo. Leo will turn 81 years old on our final recording date and he is still one of the greatest musicians to ever come out of the capital district. I have worked with Leo for over 20 years and consider him not only a great friend but a musical mentor. I have learned so much from Leo just being on the bandstand and hearing him play night after night. He has a sound and a sense of musicality that he alone possesses! No one plays like him. As soon as he starts to play you know it's Leo!!

My dear friend and fellow Crane School of Music alum, pianist Larry Ham. Larry has been all over the world playing with a whole roster of musical giants including Illinois Jacket, Lionel Hampton, Dakota Staton and Rene Fleming. A beautiful player with an inventive palette of harmonic colors and swinging inventive melodic lines. Larry is the epitome of a great player, always seeming to play just the right thing whether it is comping, accompanying or soloing. A beautiful touch and sense of musicality, Larry is a special player.

Dylan Canterbury is the future of jazz. At 30, Dylan plays like a jazz master of the highest order. He can play along side anyone. His deep understanding of jazz history, harmony and melodic improvisation. He has the range of a lead player and the sound of any of the trumpet legends that he funnels through his fertile brain! He is also an accomplished composer and arranger writing for such famous ensembles as the Lincoln Jazz Orchestra and the John Faddis Big Band.

Mike Novakowski is a special guitarist that is in high demand in the regional jazz community. Mike performs with the Empire Jazz Orchestra as well as the Teresa Broadwell Band and anyone else lucky enough to book him. Mike plays tasty lines and swings in the tradition of Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell. Mike and I play together in a Jazz Organ Trio called WeeB3. It is always a pleasure to have his tasty guitar comping and soloing in any musical setting.

Otto Gardner has been the first call bass player in the capital region for decades. Otto is a master jazz bassist. His sense of pulse and time is outstanding. As rhythm section players Otto and I fit together like hand in glove. I don't have to worry or even think about time and groove, it's just there! Otto has played with everyone from a wide variety of jazz legends to local artists including the Empire Jazz Orchestra who are "Artists in Residence" at Schenectady County Community College.

Pete Levin has cut his chops in important bands with Gil Evans and Jimmy Giuffre, plus his own touring band with bassist-brother Tony, keyboard wizard Pete Levin adds his pianistic touch on three tracks on Vol. 2, Step Lightly, Emily and Full Circle. His own newest release is the critically acclaimed CD, Mobius.

As for me, this CD represents my 2nd release under my own name and a return to my first love, the drum set! I hope you enjoy the music. It was performed with joy and love and I think that comes through as you listen to it. Thanks, Cliff Brucker

Some observations by renowned Music Programers, DJs, critics and musicians:

"Excitingly propulsive and accessibly melodic Post-Bop sextet"….Tom Pierce Albany Jazz.com

"Tasty, swinging, and right in the pocket." -Bill McCann, Sat. Jazz show WCDB

Full Circle is an incredible band that features some of the area’s finest jazz musicians performing to heights of musical excellence that have to be heard to believe.

With great players and very hip charts this is a group that all jazz fans need to experience!

-Paul Evoskevich Director of Jazz Studies The College of St. Rose, Albany, NY

Cliff Brucker has assembled a true all-star band of some of New York State’s finest musicians. When players of this caliber play great tunes the result is pure magical and undiluted jazz!

-Dr. Bill Meckley, Dean of The SCCC School of Music and Director of the Empire Jazz Orchestra

Fabulous classic jazz, bop and postbop band emanating from the Hudson area to The Capital Region NY. Swinging six piece ensemble with exceptional rhythm section lead by Cliff Brucker and virtuosic soloists including the legendary Leo Russo!

-Dr. Joseph Jewell celebrated Southern California guitarist and Professor of Jazz Guitar Fullerton College.

I very seldom use the word great when giving my opinion because I believe I know what is and is not. And most LOCAL CDS are not. Some are very very good but not quite the level of great…..TILL NOW.... I have to say this cd is GREAT!

It surpasses all local music and stands shoulder to shoulder with all national AND international music I've heard. - Gene Garone, celebrated veteran drummer/percussionist and stalwart of the capital region music scene

Even better than Volume One. "Aregin" swings like nobody's business, and the way the great Leo Russo caresses "Emily" will bring a tear to your eye. These guys are so good it's scary!

-Tim Coakley, Sat. night Jazz Show on WAMC

Drummer CLIFF BRUCKER and his sextet FULL CIRCLE are a hard swinging mainstream group of musicians from the Albany, New York area who are nicely represented on two albums, Full Circle and Full Circle Vol. 2, (BMP). This is music that is wonderfully listenable, accessible to almost any listener, while full of playing that will be satisfying for the more astute jazz enthusiasts. Each of the players has swing in their blood, and let their creative instincts flow freely. It is especially nice to become exposed to the veteran saxman Russo who certainly deserves wider recognition. If you dig straight-ahead blowing that swings incessantly, Full Circle is the group for you. -Joseph Lang -Jersey Jazz Journal