Irv Kluger

Irv Kluger was a solid drummer who helped every session that he was on without gaining much fame. Kluger started out on violin but soon switched to drums. He began playing professionally when he was 15 and his first major job was with Georgie Auld's Orchestra during 1942-1943. He had stints with Bob Chester, Freddie Slack, Boyd Raeburn (1945-1947), Bobby Byrne, and Herbie Fields (1947), recording with Dizzy Gillespie in January 1945. Kluger also was briefly with Stan Kenton's Orchestra (1947-1948), played with Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five (1949-1950), and was briefly with Tex Beneke. After 1950, Kluger appeared less often in jazz settings, playing in Broadway shows (including Guys and Dolls during 1950-1953). He was with Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five again (1953-1954), then relocated to California in the mid-'50s where he worked as part of the house band at the Moulin Rouge in Hollywood. Irv Kluger (who never led his own record date) recorded with Dave Pell in 1956 and had brief stints with Benny Goodman and Woody Herman but was mostly a freelancer in the '60s and 70s. ~ Scott Yanow