Double Live From the U.S.A. and U.K. [Live]

Double Live From the U.S.A. and U.K. [Live]

ASIN: B000059LCU

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Dave Brubeck, a perennial American favorite throughout his multidecade jazz career, is hard not to like, though, Lord knows, some critics have tried. Like Abraham Lincoln, Brubeck is absolutely original--indefatigable, modest, often brilliant, and dryly witty. He's also durable as an oak and upright as a sequoia. Dave's slightly wooden lock-hand style may raise critics' hackles, but that doesn't chip a toothpick from his popularity. His fun-loving humor and delightful persona--occasionally masked in pomp on past recordings--come over in spades on this generous two-CD set, nowhere more so than on rousing both-sides-of the-Atlantic reinventions of "Take Five," altoist Paul Desmond's inescapable 5/4 theme. Hear Brubeck rollick in his wonted abandon on "Broadway Bossa Nova" and "Margie." He's even smoothed out some of his rough riding by harking back to dapper stride and ragtime styles. Brubeck cultivates long-standing bands: you can count his quartet's saxophonists since 1948 on a few fingers. Fellow romantic Bobby Militello, a searing altoist of the Phil Woods school, had been with Brubeck for more than a decade when this set was recorded, and bassist Jack Six much longer than that. The band's evident comfort factor is no impediment to playing convincing swing. Beautifully paced sets feature oldies and newies (such as the charming ballad "The Things You Never Remember" and "Marian McPartland," the sturdy tribute to his octogenarian compatriot), many with Dave's pensive, classically oriented piano introductions ("Body and Soul" and "Don't Worry 'Bout Me"). Having built a distinguished career on European (Darius Milhaud) and American (Duke Ellington, the stride masters) traditions, Brubeck always seems to continue building on his own. --Fred Bouchard

Tracks:

Body And Soul
Cherokee
Easy To Love
What Will I Tell My Heart
Sunny Side Of The Street
The Things You Never Remember
Broadway Bossa Nova
Don't Worry About Me
Take Five

Tracks:

Margie
Waltzing
Marian McPartland
Exactly Like You
Three To Get Ready
Take Five
Take The A Train
Be Natural Blues

Amazon.com

Dave Brubeck, a perennial American favorite throughout his multidecade jazz career, is hard not to like, though, Lord knows, some critics have tried. Like Abraham Lincoln, Brubeck is absolutely original--indefatigable, modest, often brilliant, and dryly witty. He's also durable as an oak and upright as a sequoia. Dave's slightly wooden lock-hand style may raise critics' hackles, but that doesn't chip a toothpick from his popularity. His fun-loving humor and delightful persona--occasionally masked in pomp on past recordings--come over in spades on this generous two-CD set, nowhere more so than on rousing both-sides-of the-Atlantic reinventions of "Take Five," altoist Paul Desmond's inescapable 5/4 theme. Hear Brubeck rollick in his wonted abandon on "Broadway Bossa Nova" and "Margie." He's even smoothed out some of his rough riding by harking back to dapper stride and ragtime styles. Brubeck cultivates long-standing bands: you can count his quartet's saxophonists since 1948 on a few fingers. Fellow romantic Bobby Militello, a searing altoist of the Phil Woods school, had been with Brubeck for more than a decade when this set was recorded, and bassist Jack Six much longer than that. The band's evident comfort factor is no impediment to playing convincing swing. Beautifully paced sets feature oldies and newies (such as the charming ballad "The Things You Never Remember" and "Marian McPartland," the sturdy tribute to his octogenarian compatriot), many with Dave's pensive, classically oriented piano introductions ("Body and Soul" and "Don't Worry 'Bout Me"). Having built a distinguished career on European (Darius Milhaud) and American (Duke Ellington, the stride masters) traditions, Brubeck always seems to continue building on his own. --Fred Bouchard

Customer Reviews:

Dave Brubeck and company are better than ever........2002-02-14

This double CD swings from one end to the other! This is without question my all time favorite Dave Brubeck CD.

I've been a Brubeck fan since around 1952. Followed him faithfully, always enjoying his piano playing, Paul Desmond, Joe Morello, et al. After some years I sort of lost contact until last summer (2001) when I discovered he was celebrating his 80th birthday at a jazz festival in Connecticut.

What a treat to know that Dave is better then ever and Bobby Militello is an unbelievable alto sax player. It was so thrilling to know that I could still hear these amazingly talented musicians live and on new CDs. Shortly after the concert, I started buying the newer CDs and they are all great.

This one, however, has turned me on and I have never stopped listening to it. It is in the car CD player and I take it to the fitness center to play when walking the treadmill. How satisfying it is to know that Dave Brubeck is probably playing the best music ever at 80 years old. And where did he find Bobby Militello- there is no one else like him on alto sax.

The CD has a number of older tunes that have been standards for many years. The really swingy ones excite me- Cherokee, Sunny Side of the Street, Margie, Exactly Like You really swing. Everyone joins in at one time or another- and between Dave and Bobby Militello on sax- who said Brubeck doesn't swing? I could listen to these numbers for hours. They are so good that I tend to walk longer on the treadmill than I planned because listening to them is so enjoyable.

And not to in any way be forgetting the other numbers- Body and Soul has always been a beautiful standard since I was a kid and it is beautifully done. Two versions of Take Five make one realize how much this time has become part of what we are used to. Take the A Train- always a favorite. And another half dozen songs whose titles don't mean a lot to me but where the music is tremendous.

If I could only have one Dave Brubeck CD, this would be it for me. I can't wait for more like this one.

Great Value.......2002-01-07

I have many Brubeck records but hadn't bought any CDs yet. When I saw this, for such a low price, I did a double take of Double Live. I looked at the songs, checked the price again, checked the release date ( I didn't realize Brubeck was still recording), looked around as if I was stealing it, and bought it. How often do you get a live double set of a true master that sounds this good for less than the price of an ordinary single CD? It's worth it just to hear Bobby Militello. The man can play. And Brubeck? What would we ever have done without him?

Woot!.......2001-10-12

Quite possibly the best product for your money out there. Over 2hours of just superb small combo jazz that will leave you feeling wonderful. I have enjoyed small combo jazz in person and on albums for years. My first true jazz recording was 'take 5' and there are 2 wonderful versions of it on the cds. Additionally, there are a number of other gems like Broadway Bosa Nova, Exactly Like You, Three to Get Ready and basically everything on the UK disc. Both discs are wonderful and worth the full purchase price by themselves but the sax player (who was the same on both discs) seemed to have a real nice edge to his playing on the UK tracks.

What I really enjoy is the accessability of the music along with its multilayerd texture. This would be a truly enjoyable way to introduce a son or daughter to the wonders of Jazz and Brubeck. Some of the numbers just plain rock, and the drum solos can stack up to most any rock drumming out there, in fact they blow rock drumming away. I can not even describe what a bargin these cds are at 14 dollars or 34 for that matter. If you know Brubeck get these cds, if you don't know Brubeck really get these cds.

Great perfomance and superb sound quality.......2001-08-27

I am not into jazz. However when I heard this on my public radio station, I liked it so much I called to ask what it was. I purchased this CD and I am now begining to understand and appreciate jazz. I am amazed when I compare the two versions of Take 5. These performers are nothing short of genious. I am playing this on a high fidelity system. The recording quality is superb. I now use it as a reference for auditioning stereo equipment. Highly recommended.

Less Structure, More Fun........2001-06-01

I have said this before, I do not even pretend to understand all the complicated aspects of Dave Brubeck. The whole time signiture thing is fascinating, but I don't get it.

That said, this is a great album for the most casual Brubeck fan. Brubeck and his troupe kicking back and having fun. All the classics are here, but outside of the studio the stuffiness is shed.

There is a an almost dismissive breaziness to these two discs (which are a great deal, BTW) that is most refreshing.

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music