Search - Dave Brubeck :: Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

Dave Brubeck without chops!

Toshio Fukuhara | Yokohama, Japan | 09/14/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"So glad that this recording was reissued finally. My desire and expectation to learn about the days of the original Brubeck Quartet and Paul Desmond, however, were only partially fulfilled. Marian, as host, was courteous enough not to ask too many questions along these lines, so that Dave himself could be highlighted. Those who want to learn about Dave's own past should be happier to have this CD.
As for the music end, Dave demonstrates the way "In Your Own Sweet Way" was intended by the composer to be played. Marian finds it slower than renditions by other pianists, including herself, who have covered the tune at a faster pace, and she demonstrates her version to the delight of Dave and the audience. To me, this is the highlight of this CD.
The piano duo rendition of "Take Five" was also fantastic, each playing the Desmond parts in their own sweet way.
This CD, recorded in high fidelity in 1984, reveals how much Dave's piano playing had changed. He hardly sounds like good or bad old Brubeck as we know from the 50s and 60s, with the only exception, thank god, of track 16, Polytonal Blues. Overall, he plays more less like Paul Desmond with that kind of lyricism. Marian concludes her interview by saying, "What do you mean, No Chops?!" The music of The Dave Brubeck Quartet would have been so different if Dave and Paul(who passed away in 1977) held a reunion concert in the 80s."