Irv Kluger, Drums, 1921, New York, NY
Irv is a vibraphonist as well as a drummer. As a child, Irv studied the violin before changing to drums and later studied music at NYU. At the age of 15 he began working in local clubs before joining Georgie Auld in the early '40s. Around this time Irv also played with Bob Chester, Freddie Slack and Boyd Raeburn. During the late '40s Irv subbed for Shelly Manne in the Stan Kenton orchestra and also worked with Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five. Although it is commonly thought that Manne played in Dizzy Gillespie's early bop sessions of 1945, many feel that the drummer was actually Irv Kluger. During the 1950s Irv spent a considerable amount of time working in Broadway pit orchestras. Later he worked with the house band at the Moulin Rouge, Hollywood, after which he became a freelance player in California. Irv was a drummer who was comfortable with almost any type of music, and because of this versatility, was always in demand for performing and recording.
Colin Bailey, Drums, 1934, Swindon, Eng.
According to some historians, Bailey toured with the Australian Jazz Quartet, in the U.S. in the early' 60s, but by other accounts the group disbanded in the late '50s. However, during the early '60s he did perform and record with several Australian jazz groups, and came to the U.S. in 1963. Here he worked with Victor Feldman, Vince Guaraldi, and Clare Fischer. During the late '60s he made a tour of Japan with Benny Goodman's band, during which he recorded the album "Made In Japan", and later performed on television with Terry Gibbs. Bailey's work seems to fit any group, no matter what kind of music they play. Over the years he's performed with such diverse musicians as Blossom Dearie, George Shearing, Ray Brown, Chet Baker, Joao Gilberto. and many big-bands.
