Craft recordings releases a great re-mastered vinyl of a historical Dave Brubeck concert.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet – Jazz At Oberlin – Fantasy Records (1953)/Craft Recordings CR00612 180-gram vinyl, 37:30 *****:
(Dave Brubeck – piano; Paul Desmond – alto saxophone; Lloyd Davis – drums; Ron Crotty – double bass).
Dave Brubeck was a leading proponent of the West Coast and Cool Jazz movements. His intermingling of classical-based structures and passionate improvisation was prevalent in his catalog of unconventional time signatures. Much to his own chagrin, he was featured prominently on the cover of Time magazine. Brubeck’s collaboration with alto saxophonist Paul Desmond was iconic and resulted in unforgettable songs like “Take Five”, “Unsquare Dance” and “Blue Rondo à la Turk”. His career spanned many decades and he is a bona fide jazz legend. Among many things, he was noted for popularizing jazz in mainstream audiences and colleges.
Craft Recordings has released a 180-gram re-mastered vinyl of Jazz At Oberlin. The quartet includes Paul Desmond (alto saxophone), Lloyd Davis (drums) and Ron Crotty (double bass). The concert consists of five extended covers that are exquisite. Side One kicks off with the popular standard “The Way You Look Tonight”. Desmond starts things off with his unique mellow tonality and uplifting expression. His near vibrato-free technique is flawless and the vigorous notation gets the crowd going. Brubeck is up next with his bluesy, delicate intonation. As his solo develops, he adds soaring crescendos, a touch of free-form dissonance and tenderness. Desmond returns with flowing resonance and precision. The dual “coda” by the two soloists is compelling. “How High The Moon” begins with a gently skipping run by piano, double bass and drums. Then, just shy of the one-minute mark, the group transitions to muscular swing. Desmond is incendiary and maintains a bop-like ferocity. Brubeck sustains the uninhibited freewheeling jam with vigorous notation and chording, including funky vamps and staccato-driven intensity. Davis and Crotty are always in lockstep. It is live jazz at its finest, and these two soloists manage to draw on a variety of motifs and genres in establishing their unique jazz vision.
In a ballad translation, this group reinvents another pop number “These Foolish Things”. Brubeck’s solo is creative with more classical references and a unique grasp of Americana sophistication. He alternates moments of hushed solitude with explosive flourishes. His solo is preceded and followed by Desmond’s trademark eloquence that is a perfect counterpoint to Brubeck. They both are able to distill melodic essence in their playing styles. Picking up the pace, “Perdido” (first recorded by Duke Ellington) is unadulterated swing. With Crotty, Davis and Brubeck setting a relentless tempo, Desmond wails and pushes the instrumental tonality. The performance energizes the crowd. As Brubeck joins in, his runs are dynamic and percolating with his customary dexterity. He and Desmond pair up for a breathless finish. The album concludes with a shimmering version of Hoagy Carmichael’s timeless composition “Stardust”. The band captures the relaxed flow of this songwriter, but inject a subtle jazzy pulse. Desmond is at his lyrical best with mellifluous inflection that wraps around the melody. Brubeck’s run is meditative and performed with a graceful resonance, that builds momentum.
Kudos to Craft recordings for releasing this re-mastered vinyl. It is another shining example of the 1950’s advent of Cool Jazz. The overall mix (Kevin Gray/Cohearant Audio) is vibrant with great focus on the alto saxophone and piano. The pressing (RTI) is also top notch with minimal surface noise.
—Robbie Gerson
The Dave Brubeck Quartet – Jazz At Oberlin
TrackList:
Side One: The Way You Look Tonight; How High The Moon
Side Two: These Foolish Things; Perdidio; Stardust.
More information through Craft Recordings
