Brubeck proves he still has 'it'

DAVE BRUBECK, Abravanel Hall, Tuesday

Jazz legend Dave Brubeck made his last appearance in Salt Lake City Tuesday night in a concert to benefit the GAM foundation, a nonprofit organization that sponsors the JazzSLC series.

The 86-year-old pianist still has "it," and those who came to hear him didn't go away disappointed.

In much of the concert, Brubeck's maturity matched the delivery — intelligent, solid jazz that had no need to be flamboyant for the sake of being flashy.

He played as one very comfortable in his own skin, speaking quiet wisdom to the rest of us and peppering the concert with a good joke now and then.

Still, the musical volume wasn't necessarily quiet. True, there was the tender take on "All My Love," written for Iola, Brubeck's wife of 65 years. But there was also one chart that left his typically classic, straight-ahead style for some Middle-Eastern flavor, a more contemporary, in-your-face sound, with energy that really rocked the audience.

Of course, at the end of the concert, after the audience demanded an encore, Brubeck (probably worn out from the travel, the altitude and the concert) finally came out again and played one — Brahms' Lullaby.

Throughout the concert it was clear that Brubeck was the spiritual leader of the band, but he was generous with the spotlight, letting saxophonist Bobby Militello play at least as long (and probably longer in total) than Brubeck himself during the solos. Drummer Randy Jones and bassist Michael Moore also had ample opportunities to take the spotlight.

Unfortunately, there were a few times when the balance was a little off with the core trio, and the drum and bass volume dominated the comparatively softer piano.

At one point, Brubeck played some charts written by other people ("These Foolish Things," "All the Things You Are") as a preview of what he'll be doing at the upcoming Monterey Jazz Festival.

But the best material was written by Brubeck himself.

It was an honor to hear this man in person — an incredibly creative mind with impeccable good taste and a deft sense of humor, writing music that appeals to the mind, heart and soul.

Never mind the age of his body; Brubeck's intelligence, humor and artistry are ageless.

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E-mail: rcline@desnews.com