Customer Reviews

Dave Digs Disney

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I came to the store with a purpose in mind: get a Brubeck album. So which one? The immensely popular "Time Out" or the reasonably popular "Dave Digs Disney"? Each one had tunes that I knew, so it wasn't a question of familiarity. Ultimately I went for the Disney album, mostly because it would be a bit more daring than getting Time Out (which everyone and his brother already owns). But also because Disney tunes are fun.

Brubeck proves his cool pianistic touch on this album, playing in the style that brought him to fame. Even the ballad melodies are exciting ones in the hands of the quartet. From the jaunty "Heigh-Ho" to the sweetness of "Someday My Prince Will Come" and "So This Is Love," there isn't a bad track to be found. Then again, each track is quite long, with jams running between about six and ten minutes. Don't expect to grasp the meaning of every recording in one listen -- this is the kind of CD that you put on over and over again to discover new jazz angles. For jazz veterans, it's a fresh spin on songs that would seem un-jazzy. For jazz novices, it's an awesome way to get into the genre.

Its sometimes difficult for people who aren't already fans to understand jazz; to the untrained ear, improvisation often sounds like nonsense with no relationship to a tune. What Brubeck did here was take songs that virtually everyone is familiar with, thanks to the pervasive presence of Mickey and the gang, and give them his own, unique twist. In the process he created one of the classics of instrumental jazz.

The performances here are simply spectactular, and there has been so much praise written over the years of Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Joe Morello, and Eugene Wright, that there really isn't anything that I can add except echo a comment that has already been made and say that this is, quite probably, their finest recorded performance, surpassing even the commercially successful (and impressive in its own right) Time Out.

This is an essential purchase for anyone who's a Dave Brubeck fan. And, if you're not, pick this one up and you'll probably become one soon enough.

This album was one of the first jazz albums I ever bought and today, thirty years later, it still sounds fresh and innovative. Brubeck was strongly criticized for appealing to the masses... In those days jazz fans were happy to be considered musical outcasts. Dave digs Disney gave a strong insight into Brubecks future move into out-of-the-ordinary time signatures. His playing is lyrical and inventive and his well established empathy with Paul Desmond is at its highest point on this album. Even Brubeck's sometimes heavy handed use of the keyboard comes across well in this recording. Joe Morello's delicate approach to the drums has never been better demonstrated. He was a true artist, capable of incredible inventiveness. Eugene Wright, as usual, asteady if unspectacular bassist. This was one of the finest performances by this combination which was together for so long. A joy to listen to again and again. Go out and buy it, you wont be disappointed.

I bought a copy of this recording when it first was issued on LP (I still have it). I've listened to it countless times, and still consider it amongst the best of the Brubeck Quartet's recordings. The Disney tunes the group chose to play all have fine melodic lines and interesting enough harmonies to inspire good improvisation, and both Brubeck and Desmond are supurb, each in his own very different way. Listen to "Alice in Wonderland" _- Brubeck's lush, romantic, rubato introduction, Desmond diving right in to a complete re-do of the melody, and later Brubeck providing an intricute, beautifully-structured solo with a gorgeous major-minor modulation section. Desmond is lithe, and Brubeck is (for him) light-fingered throughout the album. I played "Alice" to a jazz musician friend without telling him who it was, and he identified the pianist as Bill Evans -- not usually an association with the frequently ham-handed Brubeck! The rest of the album falls in line. The quartet on this recording is a transitional one from Brubeck's eary group (with Desmond, bassist Norman Bates, and drummer Joe Dodge) and his later one (with Gene Wright and Joe Morello). Bates was still on bass (and acquits himself quite well), and this was Joe Morello's first album with the group. Morello's fine rhythmic sense, excellent technique and musicianship allowed Brubeck to try things he never would have attempted with Joe Dodge. Morello brings a lighter, more precise and exuberant swing to the group and much greater complxity of texture and rhythm. In particular, "Someday My Prince Will Come" includes the quartet's first excursion into multiple time-signatures and cross-rhythms. Each track is a gem, each solo says just enough and not too much, each player is at his inspired best. Brubeck in particular balances his classical training and sense of structure with jazz harmonic and melodic inventiveness in the best way I've heard, and each of his solos stands as a mini-composition of its own. Highly recommended.

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.

This is a wonderful CD to use to introduce jazz music to young children, and even to adults. Dave Brubeck's West Coast / smooth jazz style and improvisations on the somewhat familiar Disney themes will have both young and old tapping their toes and humming along. It's one of Brubeck's best and most accessible CDs.

It's an especially welcome change of pace to all of the other "children's music" marketed to parents of young children.

Stay cool - stay young. Dig it.

COLUMBIA did't release this to cd for a very longtime, but I'm betting most Brubeck fans like myself wanted this to be one of the 1st to be avaible in cd. If you like The Dave Brubeck Quartet, don't ponder the purchase of this cd; just do it! You won't be sorry

Following a Disneyland trip with his family (Disneyland opened in Anaheim, CA, in 1955), Dave Brubeck brought home the idea of covering some of these then-nouveau standards from Disney films with The Dave Brubeck Quartet. What results is "Dave Digs Disney," a supremely enjoyable collection of some classic Quartet fare; the material executed with their typically tasteful brand of cool running throughout. You'll forget at times that these are cover songs from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Pinocchio," "Alice In Wonderland," and "Cinderella," as they so naturally lend themselves to this treatment: The tracks are upbeat and fun, classy and sophisticated. It is a spectacular introduction to The Dave Brubeck Quartet for any listener not already familiar with their impressive and expansive catalog as well as a great addition for those already in the know. A perfect soundtrack for a brunch or dinner party; it's light and unpretentious. You'll dig what Dave is digging as few have ever dug so deliciously. Do yourself a favor and buy this album right now.

I have a story that goes with this CD.

A million years ago, back in the 50s when I first started collecting The Brubeck Quartet, I first became a Jazz snob. I wanted new, innovative Jazz ... Dizzy, Miles and Dave B. etc. When I received my selection of the month from the Columbia Record Co. with "Dave Digs Disney," I passed it by. Why would I want to listen to my favorite jazz creator play "Hi ho, Hi ho it's off to work we go," or "When you wish upon a star."

As the years went by, I lost my snobbishness and developed a love for the pop classics ... the standards ... Gershwin, Cole Porter etc. Also back in the 50's along side my growing admiration for Brubeck came a love for Erroll Garner. I loved listening to Garner do his renditions of familiar old songs. It was a two-for. Not only did I get the old great music by the great writers and composers, I got my favorite Jazz artist expanding on their stuff.

Decades later, I realized that I had made a mistake in not buying "Dave Digs Disney" back in the dark ages. When I started looking for it, I couldn't find it.

I finally found an LP about ten years ago and I bought this CD also. I love it. On top of that I just saw here somewhere that Dave has a recording with just Christmas songs. I have a hundred Christmas Albums. (My wife was born on December 25.) We get them out two months before Christmas and start playing and singing Christmas carols. It's great. I'm going to get Dave playing Christmas carols even though it is a solo album. I really wish the old group had done a Christmas Album. Today, I will buy Dave Brubeck playing anything.

Dave Brubeck flush from the quartets gigantic success with "Time Out" went on to record a number of intriguing concept albums, "Dave Digs Disney", is one of my favorites from that period. All of the melodies will be familiar to you for you, if you are like me and millions of boomers, have seen dozens of the classic Disney animated tales from the forties and fifties. The title tune from, "Alice In Wonderland" is so elegant and the quartet plays it beautifully. There is ,"Someday My Prince Will Come", "Give A Little Whistle" and of course, "When You Wish Upon A Star" The group gives all these memorable tunes a "Brubeck twist" and the songs that have laid way back in the folds of your brain from childhood, spring to life and you can't help but to...give a little whistle.