Brandenburg Gate: Revisited (Reis) [Original recording remastered]

Dave Brubeck | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000DFSB
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #390,397 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Brandenburg Gate

2. Summer Song

3. In Your Own Sweet Way

4. G Flat Theme

5. Kathy's Waltz

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Although always greatly influenced by classical music, Brubeck and band make the connection overt on this 1961 orchestral record. Brubeck's lasting impact stems from his ability to effectively combine elements of classical and jazz into one coherent sound. However, in this case he attempts to offer jazz improvisations on top of classical arrangements. On paper, this seems like a reasonable idea. "We were trying to merge the two forms in such a way that each retained its own identifiable properties--written variations for the orchestra, improvised variations for the jazz soloists," notes Brubeck in his 1998 reissue notes. In many instances, Brubeck and Paul Desmond offer inspired, engaging solo ideas, no doubt intrigued and challenged by the orchestral background. Overall, though, the experiment fails, partly due to Dave's brother Howard Brubeck's staid arrangements, but mostly because of the inherent disconnect between orchestra and soloists. When the two do manage to connect, it sounds at times eerily like (gasp!) Roger Williams. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description

Japanese Limited Edition featuring an LP Style Slipcase for Initial Pressing. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great with wine after a rough day at work/school, August 20, 2000

By 

"topaze15" (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brandenburg Gate: Revisited (Reis) (Audio CD)

This is usually one of the first albums I reach for when I am looking for a smooth-over: the very first phrases of the first track are like a great big sigh, and it draws you into a fully engaging CD of classical and jazz. I notice this isn't one of Amazon's essential Brubeck recordings - his body of work must be stellar!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, November 3, 2000

By 

R. LaRue (Crozet, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brandenburg Gate: Revisited (Reis) (Audio CD)

I bought this record on vinyl when it first came out. I found it again recently in my parents' attic. I took it home, and put it on my aging turntable again--and remembered why I didn't take it with me the first time when I left the house year's ago.

Seems many, it not all jazz musicians (up through at least the '60's) felt the need to "legitimize" their work by playing in front of a full concert orchestra--or in the case of the immortal Duke, even composing for one.

I like classical music. I like jazz. I also like orange juice and milk. But with music, as with beverages, I don't like the mixture.

This album does not swing. It may lull you to sleep.

I love every tune on this album--but not the versions on the album. The later versions are lush and phony--sounding like bad hollywood sound tracks, at best.

The most telling example of degeneracy is the title piece, 'Brandenburg Gate,' first recorded on 'Jazz Impressions of Eurasia.' (A stupendous album, by the way.) Originally concieived as a Bach-like composition, both contrapuntal and polyphonic in form and execution, it is a masterpiece of integrating 18th century elements and reconceiving them in swing. And just like a great Bach keyboard work, it is spare and crisp--nothing wasted, yet nothing missing.

Now, however, the same piece orchestrated in the style of Holly Ridge Strings loses every smidgeon of grace. The real "classic" elements of the original composition--the 18th century form, feeling, and intellectual tone--are subverted by a string arrangement that owes nothing to Bach and much to muzak.

Don't buy this CD unless you are, like me, a fan, and would listen to anything DBQ ever did--even if it were awful.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As good as it gets!, January 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Brandenburg Gate: Revisited (Reis) (Audio CD)

After 35 years of having been stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army where I first heard this Album, it is finally available on CD! The music perfectly captures the mood, feeling, and hope, and tragedy of the German people and the Berlin Wall. The songs weave back and forth from classical to jazz, and it is Brubeck's most beautiful music........just shut your eyes and take yourself back to Berlin and the Wall. Even it you don't like jazz, you will be caught up in this recording. A MASTERPIECE AND ALBUM FOR THE AGES !