This is only the Brubeck Brothers’ second recording, and it’s a shame considering the quality of the music on Intuition. Regular quartet members Dan Brubeck (drums), Chris Brubeck (fretless bass and bass trombone) and Mike DeMicco (guitar) are here, as well as Pete Levin’s organ on three cuts, and a very special guest (replacing Chuck Lamb), 21-year-old Taylor Eigsti, the former child prodigy who played with Dave Brubeck at age 13 and at 14 released his debut CD with Dan Brubeck on drums.
Chris Brubeck penned seven of the session’s nine tunes, DeMicco the other two, and we are treated to 69:54 of very entertaining mainstream jazz in a variety of settings, moods and time signatures: “West of One” is a blues-drenched swinger, “Sahara Moon” an evocative dreamy excursion in 11/4. On “Parade du Funk,” 7/4 time meets New Orleans second line. “Bullwinkle’s Revenge” is a boppish, jubilant romp. The lovely ballad “Still as Winter” elicits heartfelt playing by all. “Open Door” is an unusually structured, forceful bossa-nova and an intriguing listen. “Jump Up, Get Down” is a Latin-tinged cooker, while “Easy for You to Pray” is a soulful, plaintive ballad. “Change Up,” a cleverly constructed song based on rhythm changes in 7/8, gives us the concluding all-too-short jamming vehicle for all concerned.
Throughout, Dan’s drumming is highly responsive, Chris’ work on both bass and trombone is warm and assured, DeMicco’s guitar is a perfect blend of soul, polish and technique, and Levin’s organ is properly wailing and inspiring. Lastly, Eigsti captures one’s full attention in his many solos-soaring, jubilant, hard-swinging and authoritative-evincing a maturity well beyond his 21 years.
The Brubeck Brothers Quartet: Intuition
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