My only previous encounter with jazz legend Dave
Brubeck's "classical" side was with the Brodsky Quartet's recording
of a Chromatic Fantasy. This double CD finds us in very
different territory, mainly choral pieces of religious inspiration.
The jazz influence is well to the fore in places and I imagine
purists (on either side?) may well balk at some of the instrumental
interjections from Brubeck and his quartet but I found the whole
package a real delight to listen to, once again proving that "crossover"
can work when it is based in integrity rather than profit seeking.
Jazz musicians on both sides of the Atlantic, Wynton Marsalis
and John Surman spring to mind, have already shown that this kind
of project can work very well in the right hands and Brubeck has
done himself proud here.
The most recent piece is the only non-vocal one
included - Regret is a bluesy, elegiac string meditation,
not a million miles from the idiom of, say, Morton Gould. It features
a lovely piece of piano playing by the man himself as well. Voice
of the Holy Spirit (Tongues of Fire) is a highly entertaining
telling of the events of Pentecost and the subsequent spiritual
adventures of the apostles told in Acts, with some of Paul's
most famous writings from the letters thrown in for good measure,
e.g. When I was a Child. In some places, e.g. New Wine,
the music and singing could even be described as rollicking, John
Tavener it is not but that is not to belittle the love and care
that went into this overwhelmingly joyous piece. The older pieces
on the first disc are slightly less influenced by jazz, as perhaps
befits their genesis in Lutheran poetry and Gregorian hymnal respectively.
Beloved Son reminded me in places of some of Will Todd's
work, Brubeck sharing with that young British composer a desire
to communicate his ideas in the context of tonal, tuneful and
downright accessible music. I also found a kinship with the aforementioned
John Surman's wonderful Proverbs and Songs in the open
hearted writing style employed. Both here and in Voice of the
Holy Spirit, Alan Opie's baritone is a really splendid sound
to hear and both the choirs involved, adult and children's, excel
themselves. In Rabboni, the final part of Beloved Son
and in the following Pange Lingua Variations a neoclassical,
even Bachian/Handelian element enters, but the jazz percussion
and rhythmic invention keep us constantly reminded of what and
who it actually is we are listening to.
The original ancient hymn on which the Variations
are based celebrates the sacrament of Communion and, although
the text is from St. Thomas Aquinas, and here also heard in an
English translation by Brubeck's wife Iola, the tune may well
date back to Roman and even pre-Roman Hebrew times. Although at
times you may think you are hearing the monks of Silos then a
minute later an intimate jazz set, this is for much of the time
the most immediate piece on the set and contains some very grateful
choral writing. It would perhaps have been nice to have had texts
included but diction is generally fairly clear and most of the
words or their sources are probably fairly easy to track down
if one has the mind to do so. Taken as a whole, this disc has
to be regarded as a success. You may find that it is too exhausting
to listen to in one go but there is a great deal of enjoyable
and even memorable material here. The composer's sincerity regarding
his subject matter shines through and reminds us that religious
music does not have to be dull, sombre or over-precious. Much
as I love, say, Arvo Pärt, there is nothing to say that Brubeck's
way of getting his particular message across is any less or, for
that matter, more valid. I remain particularly taken by Voice
of the Holy Spirit but recommend the disc in its entirety.
Neil Horner
Dave Brubeck Quartet