CD Review: Eddie Bruce, For Dreamers and their Dreams

Eddie Bruce’s new album, For Dreamers and Their Dreams, is the sound of a seasoned vocalist finally stepping fully into the big band spotlight he has long cherished. Drawing on his decades-long partnership with the Ed Vezinho and Jim Ward Big Band, Bruce delivers a set that feels assured, swinging and emotionally centred, with arrangements that treat the voice as the heart of the music rather than an afterthought.

From the opening bars of “Once in a Lifetime,” an up-tempo swinger with a strong opening vocal and crisp tutti exchanges, it is clear that Bruce knows exactly how to ride a large ensemble. The band hits hard, but there is space for piano and guitar solos to breathe, setting up a dynamic that will run through the record. These are truly vocal arrangements: Ed Vezinho’s charts consistently frame Bruce’s phrasing, shaping the ensemble around his dynamics and storytelling rather than forcing him to fight the band.

“Feelin’ Good” is an early highlight, introduced by an inspired nod to Miles Davis’ “So What” before sliding into the familiar tune. The concept, originally sparked by Dean Schneider and expanded by Vezinho, becomes a full big band feature that Bruce meets with one of his most compelling performances on the album. By contrast, “How High the Moon” is delivered as a straight-ahead swinger, tipping its hat to the Les Paul era while letting Bruce’s feel for time and swing carry the day.

The Jimmy Webb Medley brings a Broadway-tinged sweep to the programme. Bruce focuses on some of Webb’s less obvious material, and the arrangement leans into theatre-style drama, with the oboe adding a distinctive, slightly wistful colour. A similar theatrical sensibility surfaces later in “The Folks Who Live on the Hill,” which Bruce approaches with understated narrative poise.

“Save Your Love for Me” is another standout, with a flexible, dynamic arrangement and a fine tenor solo that dovetails naturally with Bruce’s vocal. “More Today than Yesterday” and “Charade” show the band in full swing flight, the former buoyant and cheerful, the latter a swaggering, up-tempo workout that lets the ensemble really open up while underlining Bruce’s ease in classic big band territory. “Hey There” relaxes into a Basie style medium swing, all laid-back groove and conversational solos.

The ballads are handled with particular care. “Some Other Time” is shaped as a “true story” song, Bruce keeping the line simple and direct while flute and soft ensemble voicings lend the track a gentle, introspective glow. “Pure Imagination,” reimagined as a bossa, is both one of the album’s freshest arrangements and one of Bruce’s finest vocal moments, balancing rhythmic freedom with respect for the song’s contour. “Here’s to Life,” with its 70s-tinged straight eighth feel and touches of oboe, anchors the album’s title concept of dreams realised.

“Philly is the City,” Bruce’s lone original, stands out as an affectionate anthem to his hometown, a playful counterpoint to “New York, New York” that lets both singer and band celebrate with a wink. The closer, “What Kind of Fool Am I,” returns to straight eighth ballad territory, offering a reflective, finely controlled vocal and a lyrical trumpet solo that together provide a satisfying, unhurried farewell.

What shines through the entire album is the sense of a genuine musical family at work. Bruce, Vezinho and the band share a deep, intuitive rapport, and For Dreamers and Their Dreams captures that connection in a way that honours big band tradition while feeling personal, lived-in and very much alive.

Line-Up:
Eddie Bruce, Vocals | Ed Vezinho and Jim Ward Big Band

Release Details:
Release Date: 5 December 2025
Format: CD | Streaming
Label: OPM Records

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