Eddie Bruce may hail from Philadelphia, but he seems right at home onstage in New York City. With a tight three-man combo behind him consisting of piano, upright bass, and drums, Bruce has a charming stage personality. Between the songs he professed his love for the music and era of the Rat Pack, sharing a delightful story of his interaction with Sammy Davis Jr. many years ago. Showing off his wry sense of humor, Eddie quipped that he carries a photo of him meeting Davis at all times. Fumbling in his pocket, he turned around to pull out a massive photograph of the two from behind the drum kit.
It was a funny, but sentimental, moment. Eddie has invested his whole being into preserving the memory of this music; in telling this heartfelt story, Bruce made his personal attachment incredibly clear to his audience. Even if Eddie opted out of chatting and joking between songs, his performance itself is proof enough that he loves the music he performs. His tribute to Davis – consisting of “Once In A Lifetime,” “The Candy Man,” “What Kind Of A Fool Am I,” and “I Gotta Be Me” – was delivered with a genuine passion. He is also a terrific singer in his own right, a hearty baritone voice devoid of any unpleasant rough edges.
As he promised in our telephone interview (read the story), Bruce and his trio delivered tributes to lyricists Johnny Mercer and Sammy Cahn. The Cahn tribute included a live interview with Cahn, who has been deceased for many years; using Cahn’s half of a radio interview from the early 1990’s, Bruce and Cahn shared a pleasant conversation before Cahn told the audience how much he valued us for keeping the music alive. It was a genuinely touching moment. Sentimentality aside, Cahn is also a great lyricist – anyone who can cram the word “Terpsichore” into a song is okay in my book.
After a modified version of the Sinatra classic “My Way,” with lyrics altered as a nod to Sinatra and the gang, Bruce ended his performance with the touching “Here’s To Life,” a song that seems fitting in these times; the song celebrates the present, eschewing any existentialist dilemmas by urging us all to live in the now. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but it was a fitting end to the show.
Bruce’s October 9th and 10th performances at Feinstein’s benefitted the Guardian Angels, a citizen-based anti-crime group. The promised duet with Barry Kaye, who helped to organize the benefit, rounded out the night, ending the evening on a funny note. At 83, Kaye is one hell of a singer, with a booming basso voice worthy of a man decades younger. It wasn’t a technically flawless performance, but that added to the fun – during his song, Bruce quipped, “rhythm is not your friend!” The two had a great banter onstage more reminiscent of a Marx Brothers routine and the golden era of showbiz, and it was gut-busting funny. (Photo above, Curtis Silwa, of the Guardian Angels, Eddie Bruce, Barry and Carole Kaye).
All in all, it was a memorable night of looking back to some of the greatest vocalists of their era, sung by a marvelous performer who is immediately likable and friendly. Even though we were the youngest people in the crowd, we felt as though we were among kindred spirits. The world of cabaret music is alive and well, and it’s guys like Eddie Bruce who are helping to make that possible.
