Kluger’s echo carries on

Thursday, March 2, 2006 | 7:20 a.m.

"You don't hit a horn player in the mouth. That's how he makes his living," Irv Kluger once said.

The words of wisdom were spoken several years ago when I was interviewing the legendary drummer at Pogo's Tavern for a feature story.

Moments earlier, owner Jim Holcombe (who died in June) had ejected a clarinetist from the neighborhood bar for slugging a saxophonist in the mouth for saying some unkind words about the clarinetist's talent.

Kluger was a man of wisdom about a great many subjects.

His ageless, restless, tireless mind seemed to wander through the world of knowledge like a nomad, without a particular direction - just acquiring knowledge for its own sake.

The 84-year-old musician - Kluger would have called anyone with similar talent a "monster musician" - died Tuesday, almost a month after suffering a massive heart attack that left him comatose.

For almost 70 years he made his living playing music, performing with such legends as Artie Shaw; on Broadway in musicals such as "Guys and Dolls"; on tours and in Hollywood recording studios.

He played with the best of the best.

For about 36 years he performed in Friday jazz jam sessions at Holcombe's bar - the first 16 years as a member of the band and the last 20 years as the leader of his own group.

A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Pro Stage West Warehouse, 6705 S. Eastern Ave., west of Sunset Park. Those who plan to attend should RSVP to irvkluger.com.

"It will be a big celebration, with comedians and musicians - all of his friends," said Kluger's daughter, Jessica Marciel, a jazz singer and music teacher.

Marciel is still shocked by her father's death, even though it was not unexpected.

For more than a year he had suffered a series of minor strokes that had weakened him. While in an emergency room after having one of the strokes, he suffered the heart attack that led to his death.

"I've gone to the hospital every day and night to visit with him, even though he wasn't conscious," Marciel said. "I really enjoyed it. I can't believe that I'm not going to be going over there anymore. I thought he would live forever."

Not wanting the Friday night jazz tradition at Pogo's to pass, the club (now owned by Holcombe's son, Jamie) has engaged keyboardist Dick Fazio to keep the sound of music alive.

"Musically, Irv and I were sympatico," Fazio, a New York native, said. "We understood each other and I want to carry on his tradition."

In addition to taking over the music at Pogo's, Fazio teaches music at Challenger School, a private school in northwest Las Vegas, and also gives private lessons. On Saturday nights he performs with the Benny Bennet Band at Capozolli's.

Fazio, 65, has a rich background in music, with degrees in music education and performance from Ithaca College in New York.

He spent several years performing in Tucson before moving to Kalispell, Mont., where he performed nightly in local clubs and had a radio show focusing on jazz. He helped create the Flathead Valley Jazz Society and the Flathead Valley Arts Society.

Fazio spent eight years in Sacramento, working with the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, one of the nation's premier jazz venues held each summer in the California capital.

When he wasn't working with the jubilee, he had a jazz trio that performed on the Delta King Riverboat in Old Sacramento.

Fazio moved to Las Vegas about eight years ago and eventually began performing at Pogo's, which isn't unusual. Countless musicians dropped in at Pogo's over the years to jam with Kruger and his All Star Band.

"I practically live a 9-iron from Pogo's," Fazio said. "I fell in love with the joint - it's a small place and I feel comfortable in it."

He said Kluger invited him to sit in with the group a few times, and eventually he became a more-or-less permanent keyboardist there.

"I'm very old school in keeping the tradition going," Fazio said. "And Pogo's has a tradition that has been going on for almost 40 years - and I want to keep it going."

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at jerry@lasvegassun.com.