Son of the famed pianist/composer, drummer Dan Brubeck has carved out a respectable career on his own, and this quartet date in the famed Vancouver club is a logical work of genius. Billed as “Celebrating the music and lyrics of Dave & Iola Brubeck,” the 14 songs take tunes either composed or associated with the famed father and with lyrics added to some (not on “Take Five?!?) bring a new dimension to the material.
Steve Kaldestad/ts, Adam Thomas/b and Tony Foster/p complete the quartet, but the most intriguing thing here is the vocals provided by bass playing Thomas. On most of the vocals, he actually sounds like Diana Krall, sort of a light and modern Carmen McRae on tunes such as “In Your Own Sweet Way” and “Ode To A Cowboy,” while there is an old world charm on “Autumn IN Our Town.” One of Brubeck’s more obscure songs, the religious “Lord, Lord” is a brooding and passionate beaut, and whereas Foster’s touch on “Strange Meadowlark” is warm and soft, son Dan hits hard and cruises to overdrive on the opus take of “Take Five.” A warm remembrance from a son to father listening in heaven.
Blue Forest Records