I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live From Vienna 1967 from The Dave Bruebeck Trio and it's terrific. This is the only recording of this setup playing as a trio as sax player Paul Desmond missed the flight from Hamburg. This arrangement gave this innovative trio a lot more room to move and they really took advantage of the opportunity. Opening with St. Louis Blues, Dave Brubeck on piano really digs in. With an up tempo boogie style, supported by an excellent bass line by Eugene Wright, and light upper end but tight kick drum accents by Joe Morello, this band really flies. Wright steps up with a great lead bass solo with Brubeck and Morello keeping only the lightest of rhythm on piano and drums. Morello shows clean timing and perfect footwork on his own solo wrapping the track. Excellent! On La Paloma Azul, Brubeck plays beautifully, holding the composition in the palm of his hands. Lightly expressing his phrasing and with Wright playing in balance, this track just floats. Increasing his power through the middle of the passage gives nice contrast as he backs off on the back side and eases into the summary. Very nice. On Someday My Prince Will Come, Brubeck really starts out with tempo and power. Once establishing the initial phrase he backs off and lets the improvisation flow. In jazz, this track gets some of the most colorful explorations that I have heard, I think primarily because everyone knows the melody so well that it can be easily expressed by Wright (in this case) with only key notes on bass. Brubeck breaks into a waltz phrase, followed by Wright but Morello holds the original rhythm for a time, then breaking rhythm and consolidating with Brubeck and Wright for the final phrase. Powerful. Closing the release is an energetic cover of Take The A Train with a driving bass line by Wright and quick, fluid phrasing by Brubeck. Excellent closer for a really strong release!
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