THE BRUBECK BROTHERS — Timeline (review)

THE BRUBECK BROTHERS — Timeline album cover Album · 2018 · Post Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
If you have been into jazz for a long time, then you probably recall Dave Brubeck’s kids, Chris and Dan, joining with their dad on several musical endeavors and introducing Dave to staples of the hippie generation such as electronic instruments, long hair, and who knows what else. A lot of time has passed since then and Chris and Dan long ago developed their own musical personalities that stand apart from their famous father. On their recent release, “Timeline”, the brothers re-visit their father’s legacy as they pay tribute to the 60th anniversary of Dave’s famous cross-cultural trip (with Dizzy, Satch, Duke etc), on behalf of the US government, to Russia and the Middle East. Many of the tracks on “Timeline” were performed by Dave on the tour, while other tunes on here were one’s he wrote while being inspired by the music of the different countries he was visiting. To their credit, the brothers do not merely copy their father’s work, but instead update the music with new modern arrangements.

The album opens with the familiar rhythms of the classic “Blue Rondo a la Turk”, which Dan plays on the doumbek, quite possibly the Middle Eastern street instrument that inspired Dave’s original creation in 9/8 time. From here the Brubeck brothers and their talented co-stars, Mike DeMicco on guitar and Chuck Lamb on piano, move through an energetic array of hard bop, post bop and Latin jazz songs, plus a couple of ballads too. On the ballads, Chris sets aside his bass to display his smooth mellow melodic tone on the trombone. This combo is a talented foursome, but for my money, the main scene stealer is pianist Chuck Lamb who’s rhythmically intense solos give the songs a charging inertia, plus his imaginative originals, “Boundward Home” and “Prime Directive”, are two of the best tracks on the album. Another top cut on is Dave’s “Tritonis”, which has a spiraling atypical chord progression, almost psychedelic in its twisting turning patterns.

This is an excellent tribute to Dave’s musical journey long ago, and there is not a speck of nostalgia or resting on one’s past laurels to be found here. All of this music is fresh and energetic and played with vital rhythms drawn from many cultures.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Cecil Taylor Unit : Live At Fat Tuesdays, February 9, 1980 First Visit Avant-Garde Jazz
CECIL TAYLOR
Buy this album from MMA partners
Solo Bern 1984 - First Visit Avant-Garde Jazz
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Bruno Parrinha & Johannes von Buttlar : Whispers and Reveries Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Nuno Torres & Johannes von Buttlar : Cosmic Collision Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Carlos Bechegas, João Madeira & Monsieur Trinité : Free to Open Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Songs My Mom Liked EPK - Anthony Branker
ANTHONY BRANKER
js· 23 hours ago
“INFLUENCES” by Jared Hall, trumpeter & composer
JARED HALL
js· 23 hours ago
Jean-Pierre (feat. Darryl Jones)
BILL EVANS (SAX)
snobb· 1 day ago
Magic Box
CHRISTOPHE MARGUET
snobb· 1 day ago
The Peacocks
ANTOINE DRYE
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed