Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dave Brubeck Quartet: London Flat, London Sharp

Dave Brubeck Quartet: London Flat, London Sharp

By George Harris
August 29, 2005
Sign in to view read count

It's ironic that Dave Brubeck, alive and well into his 80's, is best known for a song he didn't even write over forty years ago. Ironic, because, as London Flat, London Sharp testifies, his own writing has only improved with age. With the wisdom that comes with decades of playing, his touch on the piano, while still spry, has lightened up from it's oft-criticized heavy handedness of an earlier time.

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.

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

piano

Dave 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

< Previous
Vince Guaraldi and the San Francisco ...

Next >
Faluas Do Tejo

Comments

About Dave Brubeck

Instrument: Piano

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.