The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Last Time Out: December 26, 1967
Sony Music
www.sonylegacy.com
By George W. Harris

Yes, there will be arguments, but the fact is that the “classic” Dave Brubeck Quartet was one of the all time best quartets in jazz, right along with Benny Goodman’s, John Coltrane’s, Ornette Coleman’s and the MJQ. Anyone dare to disagree? They changed music in a plurality of ways, most notably by freeing up jazz from 4/4 to a myriad of meters, as well as introducing Paul Desmond’s alto to the world, one of the few sax players at the time not under the influence of Charlie Parker. Throw in the clever drumming of Joe Morello, and the rock steady bass of Eugene Wright, and I’d put these 4 guys against any other quartet.

This two cd set shows the band just before they called it quits. There was a single lp put out from a Paris concert from November, but this Boxing Day concert is really the last go round. The sound quality is between bootleg and state of the art mono. At times the mic sounds a bit distant, and Desmond is a stretch to hear, and except for Wright’s work on “Set My People Free,” the bass is more implied than heard. Don’t let it dissuade you, as the performance itself is top notch. The band smokes through a take of “St. Louis Blues” and Desmond floats like a cirrus cloud on “You Go To My Head.” Brubeck himself Is in a feisty and party mood, grooving through “A Train” and “Swanee River.” Morello powers through a 10 minute drum solo before sequeing into a thrilling “last time around” take of “Take Five.” Not a bad way to go out, definitely still standing tall and swinging.