This is a happy coupling of my two favourite Brubeck records. I can claim little partiality to Brubeck’s rather heavy handed chordal playing, but his use of polytonality, even if a pale shadow of that of his mentor Milhaud, was adventurous for the time (though by no means original in jazz). It was perhaps rather simple and unimaginative, but his melodic sense is well developed, if rather slow in unfolding during a solo.
Desmond can only be described as a brilliant and lyrical melodic improviser. He has a varied tone, and an immense flow of ideas. Brubeck seems to play best when accompanying him, and there are several examples of their renowned (and relatively successful) jointly improvised fugatos. Together they dominate the music. Both rhythm sections provide satisfactorily propulsive support.
The Oberlin concert is unusual for Brubeck and Desmond in the degree of excitement generated. The original sleeve described a personal disagreement between them which had occurred immediately before this concert. But whatever the reason, the performances reveal a fierceness not normally associated with Desmond. The Pacific concert is more relaxed, and shows Brubeck’s harmonic development of ballad material at its best. These records are the essential Brubeck for me.
Discography
(a) Jazz At Oberlin: The Way You Look Tonight; How High The Moon; These Foolish Things; Perdido; Stardust; (b) Jazz At College of Pacific: All The Things You Are; Laura; Lullaby In Rhythm; I’ll Never Smile Again; I Remember You: For All We Know
(a) Brubeck (pno); Paul Desmond (alt): Ron Crotty (bs); Lloyd Davis (dm). Oberlin, 2/3/53.
(b) Joe Dodge (dm) replaces Davis. 14/12/53.
(Atlantic 60 079 (2 LP) £3.99)
