THE BARGAIN BUY: The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Original Album Classics

 |   |  2 min read

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Unsquare Dance
THE BARGAIN BUY: The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Original Album Classics

Over the decades, jazz critics and followers have waxed and waned over the late Dave Brubeck's place in cosmos: there is one school which will never forgive the fact he, a buttoned-down and classically-influenced white guy, was the first jazz musician to appear on the cover of Time (not acknowledging that Brubeck was as embarrassed by it as anyone when so many great black artists should have been there first). Then there are others who are prepared to put aside some of his formalism to simply acknowledge his own particular genius.

I'm in the latter camp because for me it was hearing his Take Five as kid that first made me aware of jazz, and why my Dad would play and sing Louis Armstrong songs.

Brubeck's Take Five -- which in all truth belonged to its writer, saxophonist Paul Desmond, and drummer Joe Morello more than the pianist -- was my entry point into jazz . . . and in recent years I've used it to introduce non-music students at university to how jazz works as an improvised art form.

And in five minutes (and six seconds) they get it: the head, the solo, the rhythmic shifts, the improvisational aspect, return to the tune . . . Easy as, never fails.

As one who poured over the Time Out album of '59 which had that track on it. I still have my damaged vinyl copy which, when I had it gifted me at 11, had been played to death by older and much more hip people than I would ever be. I treasure just looking at it.

Time Out is, wherever on the jazz spectrum you come from, a classic jazz album full of memorable tunes, tight playing, clever but seemingly effortless time changes and some beautiful tunes alongside the swingers.

Brubeck continued to explore much the same territory in a number of subsequent albums, although the exoticism of tunes like Blue Rondo a la Turk were rare. Countdown ('62) was dedicated to astronaut John Glenn and the album opened with the title track and closed with Back to Earth. Brubeck was looking beyond the beyond, even though what came between was fairly far in, rather than out.

And on his Time Further Out ('61) album there was a piece entiled Maori Blues because he recalled the 6/4 time song of welcome by Maori in New Zealand when he played here in '59. On the back cover there is a photo of him having a piupiu wrapped around him by a Maori woman at Wellington airtport.

Another reason to give him a bit of leeway?

These five discs are a near perfect introduction to the acoustic Dave Brubeck and his classic quartet -- although you do need a magnifying glass to read the extensive liner notes on the back of these reproduction sleeves.

JB_logoAnd any way you cut it, five Dave Brubeck Quartet albums for just $20 at JB HiFi stores here is an undeniable Bargain Buy. And, given the complexity of some jazz today, they come off as almost easy listening, unless you really listen.

I must go and pull out that seriously over-played copy of Time Out that I have, just for nostalgia's sake.

There are some personal reminiscences about Dave Brubeck at Elsewhere starting here.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   The Bargain Buy articles index

THE BARGAIN BUY: Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band; Original Album Series

THE BARGAIN BUY: Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band; Original Album Series

In the liner notes to the Wright/Watts Band album Hot Heat and Sweet Groove in 1967, the comedian Bill Crosby -- then still a decade away from being the mainstream American television character he... > Read more

THE BARGAIN BUY: Dolly Parton, The Box Set Series

THE BARGAIN BUY: Dolly Parton, The Box Set Series

Songwriters have long recognised Dolly Parton among the greats: she is accomplished at writing sassy songs (Dumb Blonde) heart-tuggers (Put It Off Until Tomorrow) and catchy country-pop (Something... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

The Chemical Brothers: Further (Parlophone)

The Chemical Brothers: Further (Parlophone)

And in this further installment, our heroes effect a blend of Barrett-era Floyd (given a techno twist) and Baba O'Reilly-meets-Pseudo Echo (on the soundstage of Bladerunner) then set their control... > Read more

Elsewhere Art . . . Lloyd McNeil

Elsewhere Art . . . Lloyd McNeil

Lloyd McNeil is a pretty obscure character. First of all he's a jazz musician and that's a minority music, and he played jazz flute, an instrument which hasn't been in the frontline for many... > Read more