Buddy Greco Gets Back to His Musical Roots

For years, Buddy Greco built a reputation as a singer who could take the hit pop records of the day, give them his own effusive, jazz-inflected treatment and please plenty of audiences in the process.

These days, after more than 45 years in show business, Greco is returning to his roots.

Realizing that some of his more commercial material wasn’t going over that well and spurred by the success of such people as Harry Connick Jr., Greco has gone back to stressing the great pop standards. His shows resemble the ones he used to do when, say, he was leading his first band, the Three Sharps, in the mid- to late 1940s--before he joined Benny Goodman as the clarinetist’s pianist from 1949-52--or later in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

“Hopefully, I’m doing those songs a lot better, with more maturity,” Greco said, laughing.

“It’s like a new life,” added Greco, 64, who will appear tonight and Saturday as part of his quartet --including Kim Richmond, reeds; Rex Robinson, bass, and Ray Price, drums--at Monteleone’s West in Tarzana.

Another reason for the shift of style, Greco said, is that he’s had his share of success. Over the years, he’s had such solid-selling singles as “The Lady Is a Tramp,” “I Ran All the Way Home” and “Mr. Lonely,” has recorded close to 60 albums and has performed all the way from Las Vegas to London.

“I’m at the point in my life that I don’t have anything to prove to anyone,” said Greco, who just released “The Magic of It All” (Buddy Productions). “I just want to go out and play and have fun.”

The vital Greco still gets around, working 30 to 35 weeks a year. He just did a week at Trumpet’s, a 200-seat nightclub in Newark, N. J. Following his Monteleone’s stint, he’s off to the Milwaukee Jazz Festival. Greco also regularly works larger venues, in Memphis or Las Vegas, but usually as an opening act for such comedians as Joan Rivers and Alan King.

In an intimate room such as Monteleone’s, Greco mixes his selections between pop tunes, such as a slightly overdramatic take on Jimmy Webb’s “MacArthur Park,” and standards such as Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” featured on the new album.

“The Magic of It All” is Greco’s first jazz album. It features such well-known jazzmen as saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., clarinetist Buddy DeFranco, vibist Terry Gibbs and harmonica player Toots Thielemans. The record also spotlights Greco’s piano playing.

In such a lengthy career, there have been numerous highlights. Two took place in London. In 1960, he recorded his favorite album, “From the Wrist Down” (EMI-released only in England), a collection of instrumentals with accompaniment from the London Symphony Orchestra. And in 1964, he played a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II at Prince of Wales Hall.

“I arrived and there were 10,000 people outside trying to get into 1,200 seats. It turned out the opening act was the Beatles, and it was about six months before they were to become known in the U. S.,” Greco recalled. “That was a thrill, an Italian from South Philly performing for the queen.”

Buddy Greco will perform tonight and Saturday at Monteleone’s West, 19337 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana. Sets begin at 9 p.m. There is a two-drink minimum per show on weekends. Information: (818) 996-0662.