Making Music Together — Too Human

Some couples boast of making beautiful music together, but in the case of the married musical duo, Ellen Schwartz Bruno and Roger Bruno of Too Human, it's really true.

On Sunday, May 23, at 3 p.m., an intimate audience was treated to a free performance of their traveling acoustic music act, "A Celebration of Song: the American Songbook and Beyond," a vibrant jazz and blues concert by the pair at the Melrose Public Library, thanks to a grant by the Melrose Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

The couple's background is impressive. Roger plays percussion, sings and plays "mouth trumpet" (he provides a quick demonstration by pursing his lips and blowing air out like he's playing a trumpet). He's a good whistler, too. Ellen plays guitar and sings. (Think a jazzy/bluesy Sheryl Crow).  And, in addition to performing, they also write songs. While living in Los Angeles, working under contract as composers and songwriters, they created songs for award-winning stars like Pat Benatar, Cher, Nancy Wilson, Teddy Pendergrass, Anne Murray, Agnetha Foltskog of ABBA, as well as for television (Fame, General Hospital, and As the World Turns) and the movies. After one too many earthquakes, though, they decided to move back east — they're originally both from New York — up to Massachusetts. 

Wanting to perform, not just write songs, they formed a band with them as the core, but with a unique twist. A different bass player joins them for every gig they play. That pivotal decision, in lieu of touring with an accompanying bass player, means that they pick up upright (as in the musical instrument, not morals) jazz bass players in every town they play. The model seems to work for them.

Ellen laughed. "Keeping us together is no problem. We've been married over 20 years… forever!" 

"It's a different approach," Roger stressed. "We created our own creative way to do things. It's very different from the corporate music world approach. It gives us more control."

The process works for them as well as the bass players. On Sunday, bassist David Clark performed with the duo. Ellen says, "We get a lot of referrals, so we're starting out with a high caliber of musicians. These players are seasoned. After one or two songs, they get a sense of what we're about. We don't have a set list," she added, "so they have to flip through the pages fast to find the song."

Mostly, the trio does all jazz standards, songs like "I'm Beginning to See the Light" by Duke Ellington, "Pennies From Heaven," "It Had To Be You," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "Sentimental Journey," and "Centerpiece."

"There's a stock way to play standards," Ellen said. "We try to make it different. If the crowd is really intimate, we throw in even more originals. We really love the standards though."

Take Sinatra's "All of Me," for example. The Brunos play it Brazilian Basso style, which makes for a unique experience, yet the songs remain recognizable."So often," Ellen said, "people will say, 'I've never heard it done that way before.' But they know it and sing along." 

The show is not a passive performance.  This past Sunday, the couple laughed a lot, talking about the songs to the audience, how the songs relate to everyone's lives, and even their lives specifically. 

"We're totally unscripted," Ellen said. "We work off the audience, like improv comedy, but it's musical improv! 

"So," she warned, "anything can happen. We completely unhinge our brains and whatever comes up, comes out." 

Often, they're asked in amazement, "You mean that's completely unscripted?" She shrugged, then laughed at a memory. 

"Sometimes the songs take a left turn. We just go with the flow. We do family-oriented shows, but not "Itsty Bitsy Spider." Once a kid got scared. 'What's she doing?' he wailed to his parents."

"We really feel good when we play," Ellen emphasized, "and the audiences respond. We play with a lot of heart. People are touched by our chemistry and the heart we bring to our shows. 

"The world is so crazy, the world needs a break — and we provide it for them. I like to say that's our motto."

If you missed Too Human in Melrose, check their website for future performances, to download their music or purchase CDs. Their next stop is in Swampscott this Saturday, May 29, 1 p.m. at Whole Foods' Memorial Day Weekend Block Party.