The Joe Gilman Trio: Time Again: Brubeck Revisited 2

For Time Again: Brubeck Revisited, Volume Two (Sunnyside), Joe Gilman concentrates mostly on material from the 1960’s, the golden era of classic Brubeck albums like Time Out and Time Further Out. A lifelong devotee of the pianist and a member of the faculty of the Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacific, what makes Gilman’s work rewarding is his passion for and closeness with the material, combined with his willingness to rethink it.

People might wonder if another version of “Take Five” (technically, of course, a Paul Desmond tune) is even necessary, given that a thousand recordings have been authorized in the U.S. alone. The answer is yes. Gilman’s take on “Five,” with its hand-smashed piano strings and cacophonous African percussion, is outrageous and hilarious. “The Duke,” one of Brubeck’s lasting songs, is uncharacteristically slowed to a stark, halting, yearning dirge.

Originally Published June 1, 2005