The Dave Brubeck Trio: Live From Vienna 1967

This is the most exciting “new” jazz album I’ve heard in a long time, the quotation marks around “new” because the only new thing is the release itself, its provenance a 12 November, 1967 concert in Vienna’s Konzerthaus, the one occasion when the Dave Brubeck Quartet became a trio. It seems that two nights earlier following a gig in Hamburg, Paul Desmond, the group’s stellar saxophonist, celebrated a little too much and missed the flight to Vienna, leaving Brubeck the choice of canceling or performing without him. Brubeck decided the show must go on—and did it ever!—plunging into “St. Louis Blues” at a fever pitch that, but for one ballad, is sustained for 45 thrilling minutes through the concluding “Take the A Train.” Rarely has Brubeck’s harmonic and rhythmic inventiveness been more teeming, his improvisation more confident, and what a pleasure to hear drummer Joe Morello and bassist Eugene Wright get more time in the spotlight. It’s fascinating to hear several of these pieces a month later in Philadelphia, the quartet’s last performance before disbanding: the Vienna energy wasn’t consistently matched. This recording captures a great occasion in excellent mono sound, and format options include a vinyl LP.