Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 08/05/2008
Dave Brubeck appeared at the
Monterey Jazz Festival on so many occasions since its launching in 1958 that it seems like compiling highlights to make up just one CD should have been an impossible task. But
Brubeck's longtime manager
Russell Gloyd was involved with co-producing this compilation and the result should please the pianist's fans.
Brubeck hardly fits the stylistic molds of some of his critics in this collection, that he is too bombastic or dismissing him merely as a cool player. The pianist not only evolves as a player and composer, but shows an incredible knowledge of music from earlier eras. His classic quartet with alto saxophonist
Paul Desmond is well-represented with a lengthy excursion into
Brubeck's
"Two Part Contention" (with its intriguing use of counterpoint), the always swinging treatment of
"Someday My Prince Will Come," and the crowd-pleasing favorite
"Take Five" (though it suffers from over-modulation). Two tracks are from his years with baritone saxophonist
Gerry Mulligan, bassist
Jack Six, and drummer
Alan Dawson, including
Brubeck's lonely, exotic
"The Sermon on the Mount" and
Mulligan's spry Latin-flavored
"Jumping Bean." Brubeck's challenging
"Tritonis" features
Bobby Militello on flute in an extended solo recalling
Rahsaan Roland Kirk's simultaneously singing and playing, in addition to regular quartet members
Bill Smith (clarinet), electric bassist
Chris Brubeck, and drummer
Randy Jones. Bassist
Stan Poplin is the pianist's sole accompanist for
Brubeck's poignant memorial tribute written following
Mulligan's death, appropriately titled
"Goodbye Old Friend." A delightful romp through
"I Got Rhythm" showcasing
Miltello on alto sax and guest
Christian McBride.
Brubeck dug deep to recall old chestnuts like the blazing
"Sleep" and the loping, easygoing
"Margie" (the latter featuring
Michael Moore's amusing arco bass). While
Brubeck fans may regret the omission of two suites that the pianist premiered at the
Monterey Jazz Festival,
"^The Real Ambassadors" (with
Louis Armstrong) and
"Cannery Row Suite" (with
Kurt Elling and
Roberta Gambarini), hopefully these performances will appear in later volumes of this superb series recorded at the legendary festival.
~Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
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