Customer Reviews

Young Lions & Old Tigers

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

 

 

Here's another "Brubeck in old age" CD which in another era, when new jazz releases actually garnered mainstream attention, would have sold wonderfully well. For this 1995 product on the Telarc label, Dave wrote themes for each of his 10 guests. The resulting 63 minutes are almost totally fine. The contributing artists include Roy Hargrove on trumpet, Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman and James Moody, all on tenor saxophones, Christian McBride on bass, George Shearing on piano, Gerry Mulligan on baritone sax, and Ronnie Buttacavoli on flugelhorn. Jack Six on bass and Randy Jones on drums accompany most of the tunes. The only weak moments come in the two vocal selections. For one of them, veteran scat singer Jon Hendricks does a super-straight, super-slow, super-short version of "How High the Moon" and on the other, James Moody adds some singing to the nearly seven-minute Brubeck composition called "Moody" in his honor. The vocals aren't terrible, but just do not hold up to the 10 instrumental tunes, and that's why I give this four stars instead of five. The disc is mostly mellow, but never is it just so-called smooth jazz, or boring, or fit only for background sound. If you are a fan of Dave's, this is a worthwhile late-career effort, featuring original compositions except for two tracks, and a lot of emotion.

Is this man one of the greatest musicians of all time or what? Think about it for a moment. The man is eighty-something years old and still just as good, if not better than anyone that we hear on those new "smooth" jazz radio stations.
Let me start by saying that this album is a must-own for every Dave fan. It contains extraordinary compositions by Dave in tribute to all who worked with him. I got a bit sentimental when he and George Shearing played an emotional version of "In Your Own Sweet Way.," Dave's most covered piece. He also calls upon old friend Gerry Mulligan to play a duet called "Together." But he and Gerry didn't stop there either. They then team up with Dave's son Chris on Bass, and current DBQ drummer, Randy Jones to play the youthful "Gerry-Go-Round." There are so many other tracks I could go on about, ... ... probably won't let me. One more thing before I go though...I'm a huge Dave Brubeck fan, and I'm only eighteen years old! So if I can be convinced by this man's genius, ANYONE can be!

Lions & Tigers & Brubeck, oh my! I came accross this as study music during all-nighters before finals in college. An old roommate had a copy. After 10 years, I got it myself because I couldn't forget it. That there's so few reviews is really sad & shows that it's far too unsung. If you've read this far, buy it now! You will find righteous spine tingling rythym from and for the soul.

This album is one of brubeck's finest collection compositions. It is really a classical jazz album, all the songs have a feeling that can grab you. Brubeck plays with his old friends with so much cohesion, that it can't be beaten. Turn off the light and at the evening in a gloomy room with a quality sound system you can really dig deep into the music, and the music wil dig deep into you as well. Try it with a glass of wine, and you reached sonic nirvana. One of my all time favourite album. And for the twist of it, I'am also young, like the previous reviewer, only 22. Try it!

This album of late night romantic jazz companionship works well enough as tribute to the famed pianist, though rarely eludes a numbing comfort zone even or especially in strained dynamics... ironically, and fittingly making deepest impression in minimal or even solo circumstances.