The counterpoint that Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond generated in the early-to-mid 1950s leads many serious listeners to consider the period the creative height of their partnership. For all the success of their later work, including “Take Five,” after the late fifties counterpoint was a less frequent, less concentrated part of their work. There were exceptions, even after the Brubeck quartet disbanded in 1969. One came during a brief stage when the temporarily reconstituted quartet featured Gerry Mulligan as the saxophonist. Desmond sometimes appeared with them. Thanks to Rifftides reader John Bolger for calling our attention to a video that recently popped up on the web. The year of recording is in dispute, but the latest information indicates that it was made in Holland during a 1972 Newport Jazz Festival tour. The tune is “All The Things You Are,” a favorite in the repertoires of all three men. They frequently played it when Jack Six and Alan Dawson were the bassist and drummer with Brubeck, as they were that night.
During the course of Desmond’s solo, the intensity of swing increases chorus by chorus and continues during Mulligan’s and Brubeck’s solos. Then, there’s a chorus of counterpoint between Desmond and Brubeck, another between Mulligan and Brubeck and, finally, two choruses of the three constructing what comes very close to meeting the formal requirements of a fugueexposition, subject, countersubjectthe whole magilla. Six and Dawson beautifully support the operation. I should add that this is a prime demonstration by Brubeck of why Desmond prized him as an accompanist.
Extra added attraction: a clear look at The Suit, Desmond’s favorite apparel during his final years. This video is a find.
The YouTube contributor who posted the video attached a note promising that there would be more from the concert upon request. Let’s hope that he or she gets plenty of requests.
Bach as jazz – always liked this concept. There’s got to be some reason for studying 3rd degree counterpoint in college, and this is it.
Wow. Start with Two of a mind, add a very rhythmic Three… and you can then take Five all the way to the bank, or the banks of the Zuider Zee even. Get Bach. Better yet, get BruBach!
Nice music-and nice hair. Desmond’s obsessed with “Isn’t it Romantic;” quotes it half a dozen times.
I’d call their group fugue ‘careful.’ Wonder if it ever got freer.
Brubeck is as thorough a comp-er as you could ever want. I always found his solos ham-fisted, although he has a nice touch here-at least for the first chorus, then he’s back to his stentorian approach. What a composer.
Kinda sweet that we’re still around to encounter this. One way to respond to Dave’s bombast is to read it as his appreciation for what’s going on, he wants to powerfully applaud.
Gotta love Jack’s face lighting up when Paul drops the “Easy Living” quote…
Wanted to alert you to this, just found it after viewing the Newport video you mentioned.
One of a handful of times I’ve heard Desmond’s voice, good humor and some perspective on life on the road