The Dave Brubeck Quartet: At Carnegie Hall

In his original liner notes for this incredible 1963 session, George T. Simon discusses the music with Dave Brubeck in detail. Brubeck says, "Remember, everything has to be just right for every man in the group if the entire concert is really to come off." And it did. Originally released as Columbia [C2S 826], this 2-disc set is now available on CD. The quartet finds its groove on the first number and turns out a session where each man improvises freely throughout. Interaction, of course, came naturally to the close-knit group. The acoustics of Carnegie Hall served to provide a full, rich sound, while the wild applause makes you feel as if you were there.

Two full sets with a "Take Five" encore comprise a winning program. Our appetite for complex rhythms gets satisfied, both in the quartet's blues-tinged groove and through their compositions in 11/4, 9/8, 5/4 and alternating meters. "King for a Day" features bassist Gene Wright, and "Castilian Drums" features drummer Joe Morello. After the drummer's powerfully creative nine–minute solo, Brubeck places tongue in cheek and informs the audience, "We won't ask much of him on this [next] tune, because all I have to do is play in 9/8 time." This is timeless music from a classic ensemble. Goosebumps are guaranteed.