In fan favorites and lesser-known works, Brubeck's mastery shines
It's tempting to take some "changing of the guard" angle on Friday's gig by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which featured a couple of guest musicians who have lived mere fractions of Brubeck's 86 years. That, however, would be putting too much significance on a pleasant chance to sample Brubeck's mastery, with a summer night's bonus of youthful enthusiasm.
True, there was plenty of snow on top as the tuxedoed quartet took the Berklee Performance Center stage, with Brubeck joined by Bobby Militello on alto sax and flute, Michael Moore on bass, and Randy Jones on drums. Let's hope the scattered empty seats were a result of Red Sox-related traffic and parking hassles, which were numerous, to judge by lobby chatter. (A second performance was scheduled for Saturday night at Sanders Theatre.)
The first set was ballad-heavy and featured a couple of little-recognized numbers, but Brubeck's economical solos and Militello's less-restrained ones drew enthusiastic applause. The fun really began in the second set, when Brubeck became more talkative, noting that they'd open in 5/4, his favorite time signature: "I think we could do half the set in 5/4 -- but I ain't gonna do it!" Having teased fans of his classic "Take Five," he led the band into another familiar number, his "Unisphere," featuring his pulsing keyboard style. Militello's sweet solo was the closest he came to echoing the great Paul Desmond of Brubeck's classic quartet lineup.
Brubeck then brought out 15-year-old Brookline saxophone prodigy Grace Kelly, wearing her signature black newsboy cap with a pink gown. Early in her number she delivered a solo similar to one she played recently at Boston Pops' Jazzfest, more technique than emotion. When she stepped forward a second time and simply played on the melody, her sound was much warmer, and she looked more relaxed. In any case, her performance delighted Brubeck.
The set closed with a touching duet of "Over the Rainbow" by Brubeck and Militello, on flute, plus the hoped-for "Take Five," which emphasized Jones's drumming. Then the quartet returned to the stage, joined by Kelly and Joshua Gallagher, 22, a recent Berklee graduate and former Brubeck Fellowship student who had greeted the band at the stage door.
Brubeck said Gallagher had tried to beg off performing because he was underdressed (cargo pants and a T-shirt). But as the ensemble knocked off a loose "Take the 'A' Train," the beaming Brubeck ceded the piano to him for a strong but unshowy solo, and Gallagher was a main topic of conversation as the crowd filed out into post game Red Sox traffic.
