Dave Brubeck

     Upon hearing of Dave Brubeck's passing this December, I really felt a pang of musical emptiness envelope me.  Rather, it was a realization that a huge body of work would see nothing new, a massive amount of original jazz pieces would cease to be continued.  Granted, there will undoubtedly be many posthumous releases, as record companies rarely see an end to the possibilities (doesn't Elvis have a new album coming out in 2013?) and i will surely check out all those that are offered.  Having been a bit of a jazz-man in my early years, playing alto sax and other woodwinds in my youth, Brubeck's compositions were always a staple; especially the always distinguishable Take Five.  It is with a level of sadness that I write this month's review, but even more so it's an enjoyable trek down memory lane, prompting a bevy of emotions from a storied past.

    1:  Tis the season for a wonderful Christmas album that appeared in 1996, "A Dave Brubeck Christmas", a great collection of classic re-workings and even a couple originals.  Classic pieces like Jingle Bells which have been made much more bouncy than could have been thought with a piano plinking out the notes.  The tickled ivories give great flavor to all the songs here and along with the Vince Guaraldi "Charlie Brown Christmas" this is a must-have for fans of jazz, fans of history, fans of Christmas music and fans of all-around pure musical talent.

    2:  In 1972, the Dave Brubeck Quartet found itself adding an original member to a European tour, the altoist Paul Desmond, who was with Brubeck for 16 years, very early on.  This quintet, heard here, again, for the first time was really on.  Dead on.  The tightness of the band was impenetrable, riffing off each other, soloing with fervent gusto and just truly enjoying themselves.  Though Gerry Mulligan with his bari-sax is the woodwind in the group, he and Desmond play wonderfully together adding in that extra element of spice that jazz bands so often captured.  Desmond is also featured on a few tracks, but this whole record is a delightful masterpiece.

    3:  1959 saw the release of Brubeck's masterpiece, the timeless "Time Out" on which one of my all-time favorite jazz songs appeared: Take Five.  The year before this release, the Newport Jazz Festival took place on the shore in Rhode Island.  My father was there and he has since remarked how unbelievable the performance was.  I can only imagine!  The Brubeck Quartet out there, perhaps playing some of these tunes only a handful of times before, there, in front of thousands, pounding out these memorable tunes, amazing!  Without going into much detail I will say simply this: if you must buy one jazz record this year or this decade, make sure that this one is it.