Buddy Boys Matt Baker and Luke Hawkins Threw a Swell Party at Birdland Jazz Club

By Marilyn Lester***There were two parties going on at Birdland Jazz Club on a recent Monday: of course there was the long-running Jim Caruso’s Cast Party, but also preceding it, a swinging variety show mounted by besties Matt Baker and Luke Hawkins—The Buddy Boys Take Birdland. And take it they did with a group of performers that are part of, as they explained, the Birdland family. It was an eclectic mix of artists with names that might not roll off the tongue, but yet, all of whom had their own particular talents to offer. Baker and Hawkins, sharing hosting duties, did what they do best, of course: for Baker, play a mean jazz piano, and for Hawkins, sing and tap dance up a storm. The clever opening, though had the two switch roles to great laughs and appreciation. But wait, there was more! In their opening number, a medley of “Together” and “Old Friends,” Baker, back at the piano, sang, and did it very well indeed. It was a treat, begging the question: will we soon be seeing Matt Baker understudying for Billy Stritch?

Singer-songwriters were a prominent feature of the evening. Jacob Khalil, at the piano, gave us his “ The Best.” At this point in the show, guest artist, sax player Ben Golder-Novick, came on to play. He appeared at various points throughout the set, augmenting the band of Marty Kenny on bass and Alvester Garnett on drums. Kim McClay accompanied herself on guitar, with a backup group of friends and vocalists performing her composition “In the Sea.” Izze Stein and Issac Knox briefly appeared to ask for audience recommendations for a song title. The conceit was that the two would go off and write a new song to be presented near the close of the show. Sure enough, with Izze at the piano and Isaac vocalizing with rap underpinning, “Sunshine Love” came to life.

One of the highlights of the evening was a protege of Hawkins, young Addalie Burns, not yet out of grammar school and already a fierce triple threat. The two performed a duet of “The Bare Necessities,” burning up the floor with intricate speed tapping. Another young performer, Abby Middleton, offered a sweet “Someone to Watch Over Me,” with the kind of operatic soprano especially equated with Barbara Cook. Broadway star and vocalist Jelani Remy infused the evening with his high-powered version of “Valerie,” getting the audience and young Burns to join in the fun.

For several years, Baker has been working on and presenting his “Gershwin project,” his very creative arranging and playing of the work of his favorite composer-writing team of George and Ira Gershwin. He gifted the audience with “Summertime” and “Someone to Watch Over Me,” yet again a reminder that Baker is, above all his many and diverse talents, a superior jazz pianist. With Hawkins, the two presented “On The Street Where You Live.” With all performers on stage, a cheerful and meaningful “You’ve Got A Friend” closed out an entertaining evening of fun and prime talent. But of course, there was an encore, and the two buddy boys dueted on (yes, Baker sings again!) “One For My Baby, One More For The Road,” with Baker adding a riff of Gershwin’s familiar “Rhapsody in Blue” melody into the closing bars of the number. It was a lovely touch to end a delightful party.