Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Dave Brubeck

Ken Burns JAZZ Collection, Dave Brubeck | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 18, 2011)
• Original Release Date: November 7, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Columbia/Legacy
• ASIN: B000050HVO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,190 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There's more to Dave Brubeck than TAKE FIVE..., January 31, 2001

By 

J. Lund "jazzbrat" (SoCal, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Dave Brubeck (Audio CD)

I've been listening to jazz for a quarter century (and I am familiar with the music of most of the artists featured in the KEN BURNS JAZZ series). However, I really never got to know Dave Brubeck's music beyond the one or two tracks that everybody is familiar with (e.g., TAKE FIVE). So this CD of fifteen tracks spanning almost forty years comes as a pleasant surprise.

Although some would probably disagree, I would recommend this CD over any others for those who want one Brubeck album for their collection, due to it being a wide-ranging overview of his career. Of course, this one has the original version of TAKE FIVE and BLUE RONDO A LA TURK (from TIME OUT). Also included are Dave's own versions of self-penned songs associated with Miles Davis (THE DUKE, IN YOUR OWN SWEET WAY), a remarkable 1991 piano/clarinet duet of the standard STAR DUST, a sly protest song of sorts (THE REAL AMBASSADOR with Lambert, Hendricks, Ross...and Louis Armstrong!), and a number of examples of Brubeck's classic quartet. Brubeck's and reedman Paul Desmond's solos are excellent throughout.

The frustrations of some fans regarding which artists were chosen for/omitted from this "Ken Burns Jazz" CD series are understandable. However, I attribute this less to Burns himself than to record label politics, and perhaps the controversial views of some of those who assisted Burns in compiling the video series' narrative. All twenty-two artists who were included in these single-CD compilations are worthy representatives of the art. Yet certainly the number of artists included in the series could have been at least doubled with no loss in overall quality! Ultimately, we have to accept that even if arguably some "better" artists than Brubeck were omitted, Dave was nonetheless good enough to be included (at least by the evidence presented on this CD).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific album, August 14, 2001

By 

G. Sawaged - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Dave Brubeck (Audio CD)

Up until this cd, the only exposure I had had to Brubeck was his "Time Out" album which I love. And so, to have the three big hits from that album on this one, along with 12 other wonderful songs, is a treat. This album contains works from 1953 through to 1991, and is the Ken Burns cd series' salute to 'West Coast Jazz'. This album is a great one to have for those people like me, who would like to know more about Brubeck's work, beyond the immensely popular "Time Out" album. The booklet includes 3 photos and an essay on Dave. Recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Dave Brubeck, December 23, 2011

By 

Walter J. Moran "history nut" (Sacramento, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Dave Brubeck (Audio CD)

Dave Brubeck, as everyone knows, is one of the greatest jazz pianists and composers ever to put his hands to a keyboard. He wrote his "Brubeck Plays Brubeck" series back in the middle 50's, and I had the great honor and pleasure of performing them (not all of them) in college. I have followed his career for many decades, and have never been disappoineted whenever I saw him in person or purchased any of his albums, such as the one being reviewed now. I wish him well as he enters his 10th decade of life.