Customer Rating: 
Summary: Arguably the best Brubeck Qt recording.
Comment: This is the Brubeck Quartet album I listen to most often. Abounds with good solos from Brubeck and Desmond. Years ago I thought some Brubeck harmonies here to be too harsh; but now I find those harmonies beautiful - harshly beautiful, - and thrilling. I particularly like the Brubeck solo at the end of St. Louis Blues; the Muse pushed him to take chances, and his solo's dronelike quality seems dramatic, even apocalyptic. In "For All We know", Brubeck's solo has dense block-chords, and they usually disturb the animals in my house; but those harmonies make me feel something deep and bittersweet, no matter how many times I hear it. Bluntly: most of the Desmond solos are flat-out masterpieces, jewels of lyric simplicity. The Muse was on a roll, pouring inspiration into Desmond, with "For All..." and "Southern Scene" leading the way. The Desmond solo in "Southern Scene" is such a sublime melody that someone should put words to it; so we could then sing it to our children before they go to sleep. I could go on and on...
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sweet, delicious, jazz
Comment: I am not a complete jazz connoisseur, although I do enjoy the likes of Herbie Hancock, Charles Mingus, Eddie Harris, and Miles Davis. Given that caveat, in my opinion the last 4 tracks on the second CD are among the sweetest jazz sounds I've ever heard. King for a Day gives Eugene Wright a chance to really strut his stuff, which he does with panache. Castilian Drums gives Joe Morello the same opportunity. Simply amazing. This performance of Blue Rondo I find to be spectacular. About 10m in, towards the end of Dave's solo, there's a chord ascension that gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. And this recording of Take Five, is, IMHO, the best of them all (and I've got a lot of them). The best track for me on the first CD is Bossa Nova USA. The rest of the songs are wonderful, this concert I think represents the quartet at their best. This is seriously great stuff, that you have to listen to with the volume cranked and completely immerse yourself.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Brubeck!
Comment: I listen to this one and, wow! Jazz at it's best. It never tires. Over 40 years old and still tops my list!
Customer Rating:
Summary: A must buy
Comment: This is a classic album with Dave Brubeck at his best. A collectors item.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Quartet
Comment: I think that Paul Desmond was second only to Johnny Hodges as an alto player. I have always considered
this group supurb.
|
