Vocal Encounters

Dave Brubeck is primarily celebrated for his quartet, but Vocal Encounters is a new anthology of his appearances with various singers. The 18 songs, 12 penned by Brubeck and two previously unreleased, span the period 1960-71 and are presented in outstanding 24-bit digitally remastered sound with a highly informative booklet including liner notes by the man himself. It opens with an effortless live take on "That Old Black Magic", featuring Tony Bennett. Brubeck offers understated piano accompaniment to Louis Armstrong on "Summer Song", and later, on "Since Love Had Its Way", brings a ragtime nostalgia to Satchmo's interpretation. Armstrong is also represented on three numbers with Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, their idiosyncratic vocals at the opposite end of the scale to Armstrong's laid-back groove. Based on Bach's Passion chorale, "Because All Men Are Brothers" curiously segues Peter, Paul and Mary's hymnal vocals into a fluid jazz trio. The set ends with Brubeck's signature tune, "Take Five", Carmen McRae characterfully suggesting the title. This and other newly available Brubeck classsics such as Jazz, Red Hot & Cool and At Carnegie Hall make a highly diverse collection, encompassing plainchant to polished musical humour. --Gary S Dalkin

Label: Unknown
Studio: Sony Jazz
Released: 2001-05-07
Format: Audio CD