Search - Dave Brubeck :: Take 5 Quartet

Father, son and friends. What a great album

B. Scholtes | Kerkrade, Netherlands | 03/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Dave Brubeck Quartet (with Chris Brubeck on bass and bass trombone, Bill Smith on clarinet and Randy Jones on drums) were at it again, and thank God that this recording has been made. It features a few classics (yes, Take Five is on it again), it has a few lesser known songs, and it even introduces a brand new song 'Benjamin' (Dave's grandson, and Chris' son). This was the first Brubeck album I heard on which the quartet wasn't comprised of the 'usual' members Desmond, Morello and Wright. It took me some listening to get used to the new sound, but after this happened I couldn't be happier with this cd. Koto Song is one of my Brubeck favourites, and how happy I was that the quartet managed to stretch this one out into some 10 minutes. The solos are great, but this is true for all the songs on this album. Tritonis is a fantastic 5/4 composition, and Dave plays one of his best 5/4 solos ever, to my opinion. The last part is technically so great, I can't believe that someone could have such a sense of rythym. On tracks 4 and 5 Chris Brubeck exchanges his electric bass for the bass trombone, and the result is smashing. Big Bad Basie swings, and Black and Blue is filled with emotion. Bill Smith delivers a great hand here, and most of his clarinet solos are top notch. Still, I didn't think the last part of his Take Five solo was fitting for the song. It was good in it's own right, but it would've fit better in another 5/4 composition. Randy Jones is a great drummer, just listen to Improvisation and you'll know what I mean. Hard to follow on first hearing, but listen to it a few times and it'll become more easy to 'clap along'. A nice touch is that you hear Dave Brubeck talk for several times, explaining the rythym of Benjamin and introducing songs. I originally bought this album for Take Five and Blue Rondo, but the renditions of Tritonis and Koto Song have really touched me. Never will I get tired of listening to Mr Brubeck's music. Especially not with great recordings like this one. Here we go again: this is highly recommended."