BRUBECK IS A ROCKSTAR

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

caught 2 of 6 brubeck sets and lemme tell you about it

first off i had the best seat in the house, and i wasnt even IN the house--- i was squatting on one knee, almost eye level to the piano keyboard-- it was a LITTLE above eye level

friday they open w/ a swingin sunny side of street, the jazz equivelent of dont worry be happy- it was very jovial. then they do a brubeck qt classic- i dont remember the title but it was from one of the 1st two TIME lps for sure-- classic Bru.....then, he does something different than anything id EVER heard him do before--- it was, like a 70s jazz-rock-fusion-type-song w/ the drummer hitting the "bell" of the cymbal a lot in a rock beat, and brubeck was rockin out with a crazy melody followed by a crazier solo, if you blindfolded me and put a gun to my head never in my wildest immagination would you ever guess it was dave brubeck or dave brubeck quartet-- i was astounded. then william o. smith aka bill smith joins the band for yesterdays, followed by the hit single (take five)- on which brubeck lays out and smith takes a very free solo. ive heard brubeck solo on this on live recs i think but he did not solo.

okokokokok so check this out-- take five ends, brubeck gets up and waves, everybodys clappin, he turns around and steps off the stage and instead of going back to the dressing room like usual at the club, all of a sudden the side door (emergency/handicapped by the stage that no one ever opens) he goes right from the stage right out the door, a car is waiting right out side--- IT WAS LIKE THE ROLLING STONES EXIT CIRCA 1972. OR THE BEATLES AND THEIR AMBULANCE GETTAWAY. OR ELVIS. IT WAS A TOTAL ROCK STAR EXIT. HE WAS JUST LIKE ALL: "BRUBECK-OUT!" AND STEPPED FROM THE STAGE, RIGHT OUTSIDE AND WALKED 20 FT TO THE CURB AND GOT IN THE CAR AND WAS OUTTA THERE!! BUT IM PASSING OVER AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY, LETS BACKTRACK. SO AFTER TAKE FIVE ENDED BRUEBCK IS WALKING OFF THE STAGE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I FIGURE IT ALL OUT: I REALIZE WHAT IS HAPPENEING. HIS MANAGER OR HANDLER OR WHOMEVER IS BRINGING HIM OUT THE DOOR. WELL WHO IS THE ONLY DUDE OUT THERE? CHEWY!!!!!!!!!!! so they swing it open and i say "awesome conecrt, mr. brubeck!!!" but it was still pretty noisy cause the door was still swung open and everyone inside was still hootin' (keep in mind this is only like 20 seconds after the end of take five) his handler runs up ahead to start the car. brubecks walking a little slower, its about 20 ft to teh curb.....so i waited another second, and repeated: "awesome concert, mr. brubeck!!!" he stopped and didnt turn around but turned his head halfway more twd my direction, and exclaimed: "Thanks!"

pretty awesome!!! his hands look like theve aged more than the rest of him, cause he uses them so much. i noticed that. i also noticed how much he smiled when he played. havent seen anyone so happy to make music since master higgins! the saturday show was good too but fri was amazing with the brubeck fusion song and william o. smith as special guest

[Teasing the Korean]

Cool! I saw him circa 1982. I have an autograph somewhere, probably in an LP.

EDIT - Just found it with my mono six-eye of "Time Out." This is the earlier pressing that has less text and more artwork on the cover.

Edited September 15, 2009 by Teasing the Korean