Jazz Connection Magazine

The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, pictured above, played for an enthusiastic and near-

capacity crowd on April 19, 2005 at the Sierra Nevada Brewery's Big Room in Chico, CA.

Members are clockwise, Mike DeMicco, guitar; Chris Brubeck, electric bass; Dan

Brubeck, drums; and Chuck Lamb, electric piano.

Copyright photos by Stephen Fratallone/Jazz Connection Magazine

Being the children from a notable musical family can sometimes be overwhelming. The parents' shadow of renown can be so pervasive that when their offspring venture into the same career field, expectations abound that they will some how be a "chip off the ol' block," thus potentially stifling any attempts in trying to find their own voices.

Not so for the Brothers Brubeck - Chris (electric bass and bass trombone) and Dan (drums). They have found and developed their own voices quite nicely, thank you, in the music genre in which their father is one of its most revered stars - jazz pianist Dave Brubeck.

Leading their own quartet, the Brubeck Brothers left no doubt in the minds of the nearly packed house in the Big Room at Chico's Sierra Nevada Brewery on April 19 that they were their own musicians. Helping them to achieve that distinction were Chuck Lamb on electric piano and Mike DeMicco on electric guitar.

The group's nearly two-hour set comprised of exciting and stimulating originals (with Chris Brubeck and DeMicco providing most of the staple) and tasteful interpretations of Dave Brubeck classics.

Chris Brubeck, who has created symphonic works while touring extensively and recording with his two bands, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet and Triple Play, and with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, is the group's sparkplug. His playful wit and "left of normal" genius came through in Bullwinkle's Revenge, a "twisted" bop tune he wrote that's in the vain of Thelonious Monk, he said, inspired by the television cartoon characters from the 1960's, Rocky and Bullwinkle. The piece spotlighted a tight ensemble sound, a fiery piano solo by Lamb and a very entertaining electric bass/scat solo by Chris Brubeck accompanied only by brother Dan's tight percussive agilities on drums.

Later in the set Chris Brubeck featured himself on the bass trombone on his "ballad of gratitude," Easy For You To Pray, written as a result of a surprise 50th birthday party that was thrown in his honor by his wife and family. Brubeck's fluid and syrupy trombone playing was so moving that one got the sense that the gratitude from that past moment was still very vibrant in his life.

Dan Brubeck, who has played with a host of jazz greats as well as with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, is an active drummer whose solos were crisp, well-balanced, and graced with phenomenal usage of polyrhythms. His grimacing facial contortions while he plays, especially during his energetic solos, looks more like he is in agony than having fun.

While DeMicco has toured and recorded with a host of jazz luminaries and has filmed three instructional videos on jazz guitar, his connection with the Brubeck Brood came by way of Dan Brubeck. The two were neighbors in Woodstock, NY, for many years and both led a band together, The Dolphins.

Although DeMicco's virtuosity on the guitar and compositional excellence are mind-blowing to those in the jazz arena, he is relatively unknown to the general public. As a result, he caught many at the Big Room by surprise, and pleasantly so. His West Of One, so named for the harrowing drive up California's Highway One, and the set opener, provided the perfect vehicle for the band to immediately get into a swinging groove.

Later, his Lydian Grin, based on the Lydian mode of a musical scale, proved to be a "different jazz tune," as described by Chris Brubeck. Backed by a tight ensemble sound, DeMicco's fleet and nimble fingers glossed over the strings of his guitar effortlessly, but with command. Chris Brubeck's contributing bass solo, guitar-like in style, echoed DeMicco's muse.

Lamb, who has performed with such diverse artists as Bela Fleck, Tuck & Patti, Ginger Baker and The Woody Herman Orchestra, also contributed to the compositional mix with Prime Directive. Schmoozing his way in "angelic" fashion on the piano during the opening chorus, the piece progressively segued into a joyous shout with a quasi-Caribbean flavor.

Of course, no Brubeck Brothers Quartet performance would be complete without paying homage to the family patriarch and the timeless masterpieces he created with its quirky time signatures. On the hit parade was the1960 opus, Blue Rondo A La Turk, in 9/8 time, and two 5/4 tunes: Bossa Nova U.S.A., and the beloved Take Five, done as the encore.

In fact, the encore could have well be titled, Take Five Times Five, as the presentation lasted twenty-five minutes. The tune provided a show piece for Dan Brubeck who, using various sticks, brushes and even maracas to keep time on the traps, played a very tasteful extended drum solo, creating a hypnotic groove along the way that mesmerized (and astounded) the audience.

The elder Brubeck, who turns 85 in December, was performing the night before in San Francisco. There was some eager discussion about having him come to Chico to perform with his sons' quartet, according to Bob Littell, manager of the Sierra Nevada Brewery. However, at the last moment Brubeck declined, citing age and the toll of having to ride 170 miles in a car after a major performance.

"Dave said he wanted to do it, but it would have been too much for him," Littell said after the show. "If he agreed to come, we would have hired a private jet to bring him here, no sweat."

Hats off to Littell for working so diligently and creatively in showcasing such top-notch talent in the elegant Big Room. This definitely was a splendid highlight of the Sierra Nevada Brewery's 2005 performance year.

Jazz Connection Magazine . April 2005 . www.jazzconnectionmag.com