(June 2025) Episode 659 is DAVE BRUBECK. This was a welcome learning experience because I didn’t know him beyond “Take Five” and “Blue Rondo à la Turk.” His music is a rare mix of brainy and popular. These famous songs are representative of his group’s experimentation with unusual time signatures, following a visit to Turkey on a global tour. His West Coast jazz comes off as an urbane version of cool jazz. His playing and compositions often seem to have classical piano as a substrate; in fact he later composed pieces for classical orchestra. He let his style evolve, such as the recordings with his sons in a fusion of jazz, rock, and blues. I enjoyed his late-career solo piano recordings.
Favorite album: Time Out
Favorite song: Take Five*
Compared to expectations: ↑
Recommendation: His quartet years in the late 50s, early 60s, with Paul Desmond on sax, are the classic period, but check out Two Generations of Brubeck for something different.
* written by Paul Desmond
Opus Project 