The Dave Brubeck Trio - Distinctive Rhythm Instrumentals

In the short space of two years, Dave Brubeck has risen from the obscurity of an unknown jazz pianist, to a point where he is accepted in this country and abroad  as one of the leaders of the modern school of musicians. 

Metronome  editor  Barry  Ulanov wrote:  "Dave's success was and is inevitable. More than most jazz musicians he has the equipment for both  commercial  and musical success. He  communicates his ideas through a series of levels — melodic, harmonic, rhythmic — that may escape the technical comprehension of his listeners but  rarely eludes their more easily given responses, emotional and  intellectual. Perhaps the best word to sum up Dave  Brubeck's music is 'legitimate'. It is certainly a better word  than  'classical', which suggests a tie to traditional music stronger than Dave's actually is, for the core of his contribution is a disciplined employment of all the musical devices which make sense in jazz, whatever their source... In that employment Dave has broadened jazz just a little more and given jazz another badly needed large voice".

In these sides, with Dave Brubeck trio, you will find the "fine beat", the "subtle wanderings in polytonality", and the "delicate balance of three instruments" that so excited Barry Ulanov. They can excite you, too. *Ralph J. Gleason*

Really great early work from Dave Brubeck — recorded with his early trio that included Cal Tjader on both drums and vibes — instruments he'd sometimes play on the same track! The rest of the trio is completed by Ron Crotty, an excellent bassist who did plenty of great work on the San Francisco scene in the 50s — and the package features material from the first 3 early 10" LPs on the Fantasy Records label!  *dustygroove.com*

The Dave Brubeck Trio

Distinctive Rhythm Instrumentals

Fresh, Percussive and Complex.

On most of the songs contained here, it's Cal Tjader's vibes and percussion that make for the excitement. Of course, Dave Brubeck's burgeoning piano voice and interesting tempos also give these songs a cool style that was very original for the time.

If you like the west coast cool jazz sound, very catchy piano playing and great rhythm accompaniment, you can discover this record anew—just as California jazz enthusiasts found it in 1954.

Another interesting way to hear this record is considering how Cal and Dave's music changed when they each achieved popular success. They did not play together after these recordings unfortunately, because each lead their own groups—blazing separate musical paths. Also, neither did a record quite like >Distinctive Rhythm Instrumentals< which were, for the time, fairly experimental. Really, there was no other group at the time using so few instruments with such complex arrangements. Fortunately, the results were quite pleasing; hence the reissue.

More superficially, the music is very relaxing and quite easy to enjoy. One may pay close attention and appreciate the interplay between Dave and Cal, or let the music fill in the background of a party. It's quite versatile, like the best jazz, and holds up well after many listens. Full of surprises too. This record may grow on you. My old man certainly enjoyed it back in the day and I still do.

*Monty Orrick*

1 - You Stepped Out Of A Dream

(Nacio Herb Brown, Gus Kahn)

2 - Lullaby I Rhythm

(Benny Goodman, Walter Hirsch, Clarence Profit, Edgar Sampson)

3 - Singin' In The Rain

(Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed)

4 - I'll Remember April

(Gene DePaul, Pat Johnston, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye)

5 - Body And Soul

(Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour)

6 - Let's Fall In Love

(Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler)

7 - Laura

(Johnny Mercer, David Raksin)

8 - Indiana

(James F. Hanley, Ballard MacDonald)

9 - Blue Moon

(Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers)

10 - Tea For Two

(Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans)

11 - Undecided

(Sydney Robin, Charlie Shavers)

12 - That Old Black Magic

(Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer)

13 - September Song

(Maxwell Anderson, Kurt Weill)

14 - Sweet Georgia Brown

(Ben Bernie, Kenneth Casey, Maceo Pinkard)

15 - Spring Is Here

(Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers)

16 - 'S Wonderful

(George and Ira Gershwin)

17 - Perfidia

(Alberto Dominguez)

18 - Avalon

(Buddy DeSylva, Al Jolson, Vincent Rose)

19 - I Didn’t Know What Time It Was

(Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers)

20 - Always

(Irving Berlin)

21 - How High The Moon

(Nancy Hamilton, Morgan Lewis)

22 - Squeeze Me

(Fats Waller, Clarence Williams)

23 - Heart And Soul

(Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Loesser)

24 - Too Marvelous For Words

(Johnny Mercer, Richard A. Whiting)

Dave Brubeck (piano), Ron Crotty (bass), Cal Tjader (vibes, conga, bongo, drums).

Recorded in San Francisco, California, September 1949 (#7 to #10), March 1950 (#1 to #6), June 1950 (#11 to #16), October 1950 (#19, #21, #22, #23, #24), November 1950 (#17, #18, #20).