''Brubeck Plays Brubeck'' is a jazz album by pianist

Dave Brubeck David Warren Brubeck (; December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Often regarded as a foremost exponent of cool jazz, Brubeck's work is characterized by unusual time signatures and superimposing contrasti ...

. The cover features design by

S. Neil Fujita Sadamitsu "S. Neil" Fujita ("Foo-JEE-ta") (May 16, 1921 – October 23, 2010) was an American graphic designer known for his innovative book cover and record album designs. Early life Born in Waimea, Hawaii, to Japanese immigrants, Fujita a ...

The pieces

''All the following statements by Brubeck himself can be found in the original liner notes.'' "The "compositions" in this album are not composed in the usual sense of the term. They are primarily sketches - a skeletal framework upon which improvise, to express a mood or emotion or stimulate musical ideas. These little offerings make no pretense as "composition", but at the same time I have tried to construct melody lines which have a certain value of their own, and above all to offer as "original" something more unique than a new version of the blues." "I am grateful for the challenge and the opportunity this solo album of "originals" has afforded me. The challenge lay in improvising on new themes and new chord structures without the rehearsal experience of years of performance."

"Walkin' Line"

""Walkin' Line" is named for the starkly etched bass, outlined with the melody in the first 8 bars. Gradually more voices are added in the right hand, while the left continues to play a

walking bass Bassline (also known as a bass line or bass part) is the term used in many styles of music, such as blues, jazz, funk, dub and electronic, traditional, or classical music for the low-pitched instrumental part or line played (in jazz and some ...

. ..For the improvised choruses, I employ a fuller harmonic approach."

"In Your Own Sweet Way"

In Your Own Sweet Way "In Your Own Sweet Way" is a 1955 jazz standard, and one of the most famous compositions by Dave Brubeck. It was written around 1952, but its copyright notice was dated 1955. Brubeck's wife Iola, for whom the song was written, later wrote a lyri ...

" contains three improvised choruses which to me are an example of the cohesiveness that can be obtained in improvisation."

"Two-Part Contention"

""Two-Part Contention" is divided into three sections, marked by three tempo changes. The first is a medium tempo; the second, slow; and the last, a fast tempo. The written portion of this tune is heard in the opening 32 bars. These two melodic lines are repeated throughout the piece. In the second section, I introduced a pattern of answering the right hand with the left hand, abruptly changing the register of the piano. In the third section, I tried to improvise within the limitation of two lines in the first chorus."

"Weep No More"

""Weep No More" was written in 1945. The only public performance has been in the ETO, arranged for big band and vocalist."

"The Duke"

""The Duke" is a tribute to

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was bas ...

, recorded with the quartet in a previous album. It is the only completely written, unimprovised piece in the album."

"When I Was Young"

""When I Was Young" was originally written as a waltz in 1952."

"One Moment Worth Years"

""One Moment Worth Years" recalls a moment years ago when I bought my first phonograph record. It was

Fats Waller Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, violinist, singer, and comedic entertainer. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid much of the basis for modern jazz pi ...

's "Fair and Square" backed by "There's Honey on the Moon Tonight". Something of the Waller swinging bass tradition is preserved here."

"The Waltz"

""The Waltz" contains two improvised choruses which, to me, are quite humorous. Inadvertently, I started to improvised in half-time, then desperately tried to get back into the original tempo. Once back there I decided I rather liked the half-time, so changed again. On each listening, I experience a certain anxiety at this indecision, and then finally surprise and relief when I have metaphorically crossed the tightwire and am once more back to the platform."

Track listing

''All compositions by Brubeck.'' # "Swing Bells" 3:39 # "Walkin' Line" 2:47 # "In Your Own Sweet Way" 5:01 # "Two-Part Contention" 5:39 # "Weep No More" 3:59 # "The Duke" 2:54 # "When I Was Young" 3:19 # "One Moment Worth Years" 4:55 # "The Waltz" 3:49 ''Tracks 1-3, 5 and 7-9 recorded on April 18, 1956; tracks 4 and 6 recorded on April 19.''

Personnel

- piano

References

{{Authority control 1956 albums Columbia Records albums Dave Brubeck albums Albums produced by George Avakian Solo piano jazz albums Album covers by S. Neil Fujita