Dave Brubeck Music

I have just ordered this product. I'm not familiar with this version, but I have the LP of the original recording by Gold and Fizdale, which I bought probably 45 years ago. I've hoped it would be available on CD, but apparently it's not.

The music was a ballet composed by Dave Brubeck by recording one piano part, then improvising a second part over it. Brother Howard Brubeck then painstakingly transcribed it and Gold and Fizdale did the premiere recording.

The piece is based on a theme Brubeck composed during a tour in the USSR, I believe. His wife later added lyrics to turn it into "There'll Be No Tomorrow," which, with vocal by the amazing Carmen McRae and backing by Dave and his group, was included as a final track on the LP.

Since I've never heard the version on this CD, I'm guessing at a rating. I'm hoping I like it as much as the original LP.

Disney's music writiers are a talented group. Brubeck shows great respect for the original pieces as he takes these lyrical and well-identified pieces and turns them into exceptional jazz.

We love Dave Brubeck: The old 78's, 45's, and the LP's. If you can't get an LP copy of this, then the CD copy works just great for dinner parties, etc.

I bought this CD for our family to listen to in the car, hoping for a respite from the usual arguments over choosing radio stations. It was a wonderful choice! My kids, ages 3 and 7 both enjoy listening to the music; they sit, mesmerized and quiet as Dave and his band play. The operative word is QUIET. The music uses Disney as the basis for the songs, but the jazz improvisation transcends the mundane and makes these tunes fanciful, fun, and interesting. I'm not a jazz expert, but as an everyday music pleb, I recommend this album. We listen to 'Dave Digs Disney' on a weekly basis, and it is so varied that nobody gets tired of listening.

As a long-time Brubeck fan, I bought this album mainly to hear the quartet's rendition of "Alice in Wonderland". It wasn't bad, but I was unimpressed. I was also unimpressed with most of the rest of the album. There were certainly some nice bits, and a great performance of "Someday my Prince will Come", but on the whole this album just wasn't my cup of tea.

For a while, I debated on whethr I should buy this album. Of course, I'd already heard "Time Out," and the other odd-time-signatured records, along with "Jazz Goes to College," and some others. That, though, was "serious" jazz. This was Dave and crew playing Disney songs we've all heard - I thought then - too many times.

But leave it to Dave, Paul, Joe, and the bass player of the month to take the familiar and help us rediscover its delights. Believe it or not, Disney CAN swing and be more than a novelty.

First and foremost, this album is a high example of West Coast jazz at its best. It achieves the type of laid back feel that can't help but put a cool smile on the listeners face (particularly, but certainly not limited to, "When You Wish Upon a Star.") The soloing, while none of it earth-shattering, is always melodic, sweet and simple. Rarely do we hear Brubeck soloing in his "pounding-out-block-chords" mood. Rather we hear his sweeter and more lyrical "one-note-at-a-time" side. The mood of the album demands it.

The only complaint I have is that sometimes this album is actually a bit TOO laid back. When the quartet is not careful, they can actually become pretty formulaic. First Paul Desmond solos, then Dave Brubeck, then some counterpoint between them, and out (maybe after having traded fours with Joe Morello). Yes, this album does engage in a good amount of that. If the music on this album did not come off so dang good, I would have been tempted to deduct more than one star for that.

But this music really is that dang good. As long as you are not expecting unbridled emotionalism or intensity (but, instead, restrained and sweetly wistful diddies), then this album will be a good choice.