Customer Reviews

Jazz at the College of the Pacific 2

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I don't have volume 1, but I dont't think I'll live without it for a long while anyway. This music is so great - there is more to it than meets the ear, considering that Brubeck and Desmond play themes of songs like "my heart belongs to daddy", "ding dong the witch is dead", "serenade in blue", all at unexpected places, but all sounding natural in the music's developments. Even some ideas from later Brubeck compositions are featured (I distinguished something from his Real Ambassadors, but maybe I'm too enthusiastic).
What do they mean, that this is an "all-standard" repertoire? There is as much genuine Brubeck here as on his albums with only originals (the "Time out/in/further out etc. recordings).

Noteworthy is that the bonus track (track 8) is Brubeck very first recording, from 1942. It lasts only 94 seconds and the sound quality is meagre, but still, for any fan, it is very nice to have, since it's available on no other Brubeck disc, as far as I'm aware of anyway.

I can't believe Brubeck's record company thought these tracks weren't worthy of release. As good as Volume One is (and it is great), this postively cooks until the lid blows off. You practically can "see" the excitment of the audience and the band feeding off each other. Brubeck and company are just over-flowing with joy and it comes out in their playing.

The recording quality is exceptional for its age. Both Brubeck and Desmond can be heard loud and clear. My only complaint is the dynamics of the drums sounds a little compressed to me and the bass is inaudible in places. But again given that these tapes were almost fifty years old I am more than grateful for what we have.

It was a mistake to keep these tapes unreleased and lost in a vault. If you have any doubts about why Brubeck created the excitment and acclaim he did in the face of the rise of rock and roll, give this CD a spin. Brubeck is proof that "real jazz" doesn't have to be dreary to touch real emotions.

Apparently chosen as the "lesser" half of the original "Jazz at the College of the Pacific" on the Fantasy label, these newly released tracks of the "original" DBQ are a treasure to Brubeck collectors. Are they better than the original release, now Volume 1? I think so. Desmond shines with his silky smooth tonal work, and Brubeck complements him with piano work both original and typical of his unique style.

Dave Brubeck is 90 years old and still performing concerts. His discography has always been extensive but, remarkably, it continues to grow, not through new recordings but by CD reissues of long unavailable LPs and rummagings from the archives of studio and concert dates. On December 14, 1953, Brubeck's young first quartet (with Ron Crotty on bass and Joe Dodge on drums), who were making the rounds of colleges, did a 90-minute set at the College of the Pacific. The producer chose six pieces for an album, the remaining master tapes remaining on the shelves. Why those particular tunes were selected over others is not known for certain, as all works were standards, but Laura, I'll Never Smile Again, and I Rememeber You were very popular at that time. This second volume presents some enduring jazz standards, including Stardust, Crazy Rhythm, and How High The Moon, and from our more contemporary perspective, the list is superior. The performances certainly are as good as those of Volume 1, and while the engineering of the period was comparatively thin and shallow, the remastering is clean and more rounded. Even more important is the exceedingly high energy and brilliant improvisation. These are live recordings, and the interaction of enthusiastic audience and artists lifted the moment. If you have Volume 1, you will want the this album to complete the set and prolong the enjoyment of a Brubeck milestone.