Review: Steve Horowitz Quartet at Jazz on Jay, Thursday, June 19, 2025

Brevity may be the soul of wit, as the saying goes. To trot out another tired truism/cliche; in jazz brevity may seem honored more in the breach than the observance. In other words, it can feel scarce when players stretch, jam and explore.

Not Thursday at Jazz on Jay before likely the largest-ever indoor show in the series. Onstage at  the bad-weather site in Proctors Robb Alley, the Steve Horowitz Quartet mostly kept things concise, cool and calm; swinging at medium tempos. They earned the title “I’m Old Fashioned,” one of 11 antique standards they dusted off with unfailing elegant understatement.

The Steve Horowitz Quartet, from left: Cliff Brucker, drums; Rich Syracuse (behind mic stand)’ Steve Horowitz, trumpet; and Larry Ham, piano

Noting he seldom leads a gig or session, Horowitz introduced his sidemen as the veteran players and old friends they clearly are: Larry Ham, piano; Rich Syracuse, electric upright bass; and Cliff Brucker, drums.

“Road Song” set the upbeat mood; this road had the occasional yellow-light of a stop and go groove, but they avoided the fast lane as everybody soloed in turn: trumpet, piano, bass and drums, clocking in at seven minutes; “Sweet Pumpkin,” another easy swinger, ran eight, even with Horowitz cueing Ham to stretch his solo, enjoying the groove.

Everybody played within themselves, never going far outside or pushing too hard. The vibe was cooperative, respecting the tunes and composers; but it didn’t lack for personality as their phrasing supplied. Horowitz chose some tunes for their association with other trumpeters: “Sweet Pumpkin” with Blue Mitchell, “Up Jumped Spring” with Freddie Hubbard, “Uno Mas” with Kenny Dorham. However, “I Told You So” paid tribute to Dexter Gordon, they grabbed “Triste” from Antonio Carlos Jobim’s deep songbook, and “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” from “My Fair Lady.” This one was loverly; a delicious ballad in the quartet’s confident hands.

They hit their highest altitude in a rousing trio romp through “It’s You Or No One,” their fastest riffs – Horowitz’s rapid scalar trumpet runs – in “Triste.” He switched to flugelhorn in the middle of “Up Jumped Spring,” luxuriating in its mellow sound through about half the 90-minute set.  

Every tune clocked in at under 10 minutes, and this economy worked well for them. Inventive players, their solos had their say then yielded to the next cat. Ham really shone in “I’m Old Fashioned,” Syracuse owned “It Could Happen to You” and “One Mint Julep” while Brucker brought the power in swapping fours at the codas of many tunes and made the most of his solo breaks, especially “Triste” where he stirred a happy uproar.

The rhythm section played “It’s You Or No One” as a trio, spry and strong.

Always tasteful, coloring inside the lines, Horowitz enjoyed his players as much as anybody but took a back seat to nobody; an elegant soloist of swinging clarity.

Fans filed into Robb Alley in such numbers that the crews scrambled to set up more chairs. Some had gone originally to Jay Square, the Jazz on Jay outdoor venue. and arrived relieved to escape the heat. Singers Kaitlyn Koch and Jody Shayne sat side by side among the many musicians who especially enjoyed classic tunes without frills.

Setlist

Road Song

Sweet Pumpkin

Up Jumped Spring

Wouldn’t It Be Loverly

I Told You So

It’s You or No One

I’m Old Fashioned

Triste

It Could Happen To You

Uno Mas

One Mint Julep

MORE JAZZ? COMING RIGHT UP

Tonight at 7:30 p.m., Michael Benedict leads his straight-ahead Boptitude quintet at the Van Dyck (237 Union St., Schenectady). It’s no. 008 in the Van Dyck’s Thirdsday Nite series; third Thursday of each month. Tonight, it’s Benedict, drums; with David Gleason, piano; Mike Lawrence, bass; Chris Pasin, trumpet; and Brian Patneaude, saxophone. 7:30 p.m. $20 at the door. 

Jazz on Jay continues next Thursday, June 26 at noon with the Jeff “Siege” Siegel Quartet, co-starring bassist Rich Syracuse. They were bandmates for decades behind pianist Lee Shaw. 

And, as Horowitz announced, the BWC Jazz Orchestra, which Brucker co-leads with trumpeters Steve Weisse and Dylan Canterbury, plays the Caroga Lake festival July 19.