The Dale Bruning Quintet

As with guitarist Dale Bruning’s Classical Connections—Vol. I, the songs on the followup, Classical Connections—Vol. II, were culled from archived live recordings of two Dazzle sets back in November 2006 (save for the solo opener, “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows”). Both volumes find Bruning and special guest Ali Ryerson dipping into popular songs whose harmonic and melodic content are based on the structure of classical music — as well as actual classical pieces — to exceptional effect. Bruning’s velvety phrasing on cuts like “On the Trail” and “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To” is every bit as compelling as it is on tracks like the Bach composition “Bourreé From the Suite in E Minor,” on which Bruning offers a short yet swinging take, and the bossa-flavored arrangement of Gabriel Fauré’s “Pavane.”