Other Unreissued Brubeck-!
T. Fuller Dean | Alpine, CA United States | 09/12/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I needn't use this space to further praise the long-awaited reissue (Lonehill) of this wonderful early Brubeck classic -- or the equally welcome reissue of Brubeck's JAZZ IMPRESSIONS OF THE U.S.A (Gambit) -- and, surely, the music of this justly legendary Quartet speaks eloquently for itself. So, I'll limit my comments here to simply questioning when we might expect to see the reissue of three other worthy, critically acclaimed, and inexplicably (for such a popular artist!) ignored Columbia items from the Brubeck catalog: the early and unique non-Desmond quartet effort, THE RIDDLE, a wonderful, folk-based original suite, with long-time Brubeck friend, Bill Smith, perfectly cast on clarinet; and two outstanding later quartet efforts, with Gerry Mulligan (in place of the departed Desmond) in top form on COMPADRES and BLUES ROOTS, both 5-star Down Beat-rated albums. (Ironically, the lesser BRAVO! BRUBECK!, with Mulligan, has been reissued.) I'm a serious collector -- and maybe a 'completist' -- but no self-respecting Brubeck 'aficionado' can be happy without these three strong entries in the Brubeck canon!"