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Dave Brubeck Quartet: London Flat, London Sharp
With lengthy intros, as on the tango "Time of Our Madness," or the extended solo during the swinging "Mr. Fats," Brubeck makes a good case. Articulate and nimble, sly and provocative, his glassy tone is perfectly meshed with bassist Michael Moore and drummer Randy Jones. Bobby Militello, forever cursed to be compared to Paul Desmond, Brubeck's most famous partner, is content to be himself: blowing hard, intensely, and strong on the likes of the title piece, melancholy (on flute) and wistful during "Steps to Peace," and only succumbing to Desmond on a retake of the '61 composition "Unisphere."
Brubeck is still able to play well with time signatures, using shifting meters throughout the entire recording. Closing with a nostalgic and dreamy reading of one of his first compositions on solo piano, "Ballad of the Rhine," he amply shows that time has not caught up to him.
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Track Listing
London Flat, London Sharp; To Sit and Dream; The Time of Our Madness; Unisphere; Steps to Peace; Forty Days; Cassandra; Yes, We All Have Our Cross to Bear; Mr. Fats; Ballad of the Rhine
Personnel
Dave Brubeck
pianoDave Brubeck, piano; Bobby Militello, alto sax and flute; Michael Moore, double bass; Randy Jones, drums
Album information
Title: London Flat, London Sharp | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Telarc Records
About Dave Brubeck
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