Search - Dave Brubeck :: Jazz Goes to College

Where is Jazz Goes to Junior College?????

ABH457 | New York | 02/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This one of Brubeck's (and of course Desmond's -- where would the quartet be without him?) greatest recordings -- much truer to real jazz than the programmed formulaic "Time Out"/"Time In"/Time Anywhere series. This one is on a par with the fine "Jazz at the College of the Pacific," where drummer Joe Dodge creates a very different swing for the group than he does here, or as the smoother Joe Morello did for the group later. Morello brings me, however, to the other classic -- "Jazz Goes to Junior College" -- which INEXPLICABLY is still not available. Why not?? Desmond's fabulous solo on "Bru's Blues" on "Junior" is on a par or better than "Balcony Rock" here. Is Sony really so broke that they cannot add this classic to the Brubeck CD shelf? At least to make the three college concerts a series.....now there's a marketing plan for them!!"

Perhaps my favorite "cool jazz" CD

Peter E. Johansen | 03/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Certainly Time Out is a great album, as are just about all the Brubeck albums, but to me, this early album (1954) is the Brubeck to get first. This is completely fresh and unique jazz improvisation that to my ears goes deeper than just about anything else in the cool jazz/west coast school of the 50s. Paul Desmond sounds absolutely inspired, and everyone in the group sounds as if they are totally on the same page. It even seems that the audience is listening with bated breath, absolutely in synch with what this group is doing. This music seems to float, sounding like a perfect dry martini (which is, I think, a common metaphor to describe Paul Desmond's alto sax sound). This even holds true when Desmond throws in elements that sound to my ears almost atonal, and perhaps these aspects of his playing are why Anthony Braxton cites him as a central influence.



My only complaint is that I wish Columbia Records would release a remastered version of this CD!"