The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Best of Brubeck, 1979-2004

Label: Concord Jazz
Year: 2006
Released on LP: No
Released on CD: Yes

Tracks

CD 1

1. Yesterdays
2. Symphony
3. Koto Song
4. Black and Blue
5. Big Bad Basie
6. Reflections of You
7. Blue Lake Tahoe
8. Dizzy's Dream
9. St. Louis Blues
10. Take Five

CD 2

1. Cherokee
2. Fourth of July
3. The Things You Never Remember
4. Waltzing
5. I Got Rhythm
6. Day After Day
7. Love for Sale
8. Cassandra
9. Forty Days
10. River Stay 'Way from My Door

Notes

This is the first compilation that combines the best of Dave Brubeck’s Concord and Telarc material, 1979-2004.

Russell Gloyd: Compilation Producer, Liner Notes

Bob Blumenthal: Liner Notes

Performers:

Dave Brubeck
Jerry Bergonzi
Chris Brubeck
Alec Dankworth
Randy Jones
Butch Miles
Bobby Militello
Michael Moore
Jack Six
Bill Smith


Concord Press release:

In celebration of Dave Brubeck’s 60th Anniversary of his recording debut, Concord Music Group proudly presents Best of Brubeck (1979-2004). The 20 selections herein, recorded for Concord Jazz (DISC ONE) and Telarc (DISC TWO), are a model of balance between live and in-studio performances (11 and 9 selections, respectively). There are 11 supple Brubeck originals, older and newer, joined by standards and jazz perennials.

Reviews

Review - www.jazzreview.com - copyright -Bill Falconer

Dave Brubeck is amazing. He was born in 1920, led a service band in WWII, and yet has a 2007 touring schedule covering North America with a side trip to Singapore.

Although his piano style was complex with heavy chords, polytones and polyrhythms, and the quartet often used odd-metered rhythms, his music became popular in the fifties and sixties, particularly with college audiences. The key to the original quartet sound was Paul Desmond, whose wit and cool alto tone (which he likened to a dry martini) moderated Brubeck's fire.

Best of Brubeck (1979-2004) is a two CD set. Disc One covers the Concord Jazz years (1979-1987) and opens with "Yesterdays." Cool is gone as the Coltrane-inspired Jerry Bergonzi pushes his tenor to the limit. Brubeck responds with powerful chords and lines. The quartet then takes an edgy Latin approach to "Symphony," breathing life into this mundane pop song. The sound changes again as Bergonzi is succeeded by a long-time Brubeck associate, Bill Smith, whose eloquent clarinet work on Brubeck's"Koto Sound" conjures up the scent of cherry blossoms. Brubeck then salutes two favorite pianists. Chris Brubeck switches from string bass to bass trombone for Fats Waller's "Black and Blue" and the father and son interplay builds and builds into a cry for action. On "Big Bad Basie" Dave melds stride and Basie licks with his personal touch. Then two more Brubeck originals: "Reflections of You" is a passionate chart in contrast to his lilting waltz,"Blue Lake Tahoe." The disc ends with "Dizzy's Dream" (check those quotes!), a percussive take on "St. Louis Blues," and the freest version of "Take Five" you will ever hear, thanks to Brubeck and Smith.

Brubeck combines bop and stride in a rip-roaring "Cherokee" to open Disc Two and the Telarc years (1993 to present). The horn of choice is alto. As the player, Bobby Militello, came from Maynard Ferguson's band his pyrotechnics shouldn't surprise the listener! They carry through to the Brubeck waltz, "Fourth of July." However, he does have a sensitive side and Brubeck's lovely ballad " The Things You Never Remember" finds Militello and Brubeck in a contemplative mood. "Waltzing" is easy-going and romantic. Then, from a London concert, the quartet has a jolly time with those Gershwin "Rhythm" changes including a Brubeck solo that is pure bop. His tune, "Day After Day" is lightly Latin with bassist Alec Dankworth very much in the mix. "Love For Sale" opens more casually than torrid but the group keeps turning up the heat. "Cassandra," in the book since 1965, shows no signs of wear and tear and both Militello and Brubeck appear particularly intense as they perform "Forty Days," a section from one of the pianist/composer's stirring oratorios. The disc closes with a New Orleans style " River Stay 'Way From My Door" (how unfortunately appropriate!), was recorded at NYC's Blue Note in 1993. The band goes out with two more cats joining in, Bill Smith on clarinet and Chris Brubeck on bass trombone.

This set stands out in an era when vaults are mined and compilations thrown together. Russell Gloyd, Dave's producer,conductor and manager since 1976 selected the tracks, and they are well-documented both by his remarks and Bob Blumenthal's liner notes. One can always argue about what is best but Best of Brubeck (1979-2004) is a fine presentation of the work of this master who achieved great popularity without ever compromising his musical integrity.