Man, I have really been enjoying the Dave Brubeck section of the record collection.

Really.  No, really.  I mean, it’s kind of strange that he doesn’t have more cred among the jazz nerds.  You know how Jack Black et al argue about all the records in their collection in High Fidelity and then they berate customers who aren’t hip enough to buy the cassingle version that was only released in, like, Slovenia or something?  I was in the middle of that very problem at my favorite Cambridge record store a few years ago, buying Dave Brubeck albums while the customers were actually arguing (with the staff) about whether or not Brubeck could swing, and whether his music was actually any good.

Here’s what I think: he’s great.  I like certain things about his playing, and just like everyone, there are somethings I wish was a little more burning (like his line playing).  But as an arranger, he’s fantastic.  Check out his arrangement of “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime” from Tritonis, or his fantastic arrangement of “I Feel Pretty” from Plays Music from “West Side Story” and…, or, for that matter, “All the Things You Are” from Jazz at the College of the Pacific (although there is a pretty distasteful – by today’s standards – quote in Brubeck’s solo on that take).   The arrangements are truly top notch.

The list is:

• Jazz at the College of the Pacific – Earlier than the classic quartet, this stars Paul Desmond, with Ron Crotty on bass and Joe Dodge on drums.  Not essential, but very, very good.
• Brubeck on Campus – a 2-fer LP of Jazz Goes to College and Jazz Goes to Junior College.  The personnel on these records start to introduce the classic band, with Joe Morello appearing on drums.  Joe Dodge is still on some tracks, and the bassists are Norman Bates (not Anthony Perkins) on some tracks and Bob Bates on others (brothers, as it turns out).  Great playing.  I have been thinking about the bass playing quite a bit, and even more so with the introduction of Eugene Wright (on the next LP on the list).  As a bassist and a longtime fan of the slick nerdy things we can do to add a little flavor to the mix, I had a hard time connecting with the bass playing on these records (and those with Wright) until now.  These guys never play anything strange.  And at various times in my own development, I would have thought that by virtue of the absence of anything strange, the playing couldn’t possibly be great.  But now, I’m so impressed with their bass playing because of that very fact.  I think that they play with clarity and reliability, constantly demonstrating what it means to be the foundation.
• Plays Music from “West Side Story” and… – Just great.  This is the classic quartet, and everyone plays beautifully.  As I said, “I Feel Pretty” is particularly great.
• Curcio/I Giganti Del Jazz – an Italian import starring the classic quartet.  Very nice.
• Brother, The Great Spirit Made Us All – I jump right from the classic band to the late 1970s.  I never would have purchased this record (or those to follow in this list), if it weren’t for the fact that they star the great tenor saxophone player, Jerry Bergonzi, aka, my former teacher.  The first time I heard these records, he made them, carried them, created all that was interesting to my ears.  I still think that he is amazing on these recordings, but add to that a recent thought: what if Jerry’s playing was so great that he pushed Brubeck to greater heights?  I find Brubeck’s playing to be much more daring than on the classics.  Could have been a sign of the times, the fact that his band was made up entirely of youngsters, and/or/but/also/maybe Jerry’s amazing playing.  He sounds great.
• Back Home – A very nice live date.  Bergonzi also plays some mean electric bass on this record (and on the next one).
• Tritonis – Jerry Bergonzi is absolutely amazing on this record.  “Like Someone in Love” is truly astounding, and, as I said, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” is a great listen.

There are some obvious things missing from this list, but don’t worry: I have them on CD.

Next up is an LP by Chico Buarque and even though I’m leaping to CD, I have a bunch of great new Greg Burk CDs to listen to.

Best, R