Jon De Lucia: The Brubeck Octet Project

MUSAEUM CLAUSUM 003 (RECORDED DECEMBER 2023)

The joy on Jon De Lucia’s face on the back cover of The Brubeck Octet Project says it all. The joy of discovering many of Dave Brubeck’s handwritten charts for the innovative sessions he recorded between 1946 and 1950. The joy of retaining the contrapuntal
intricacy of these charts while adding more solo space and recasting them with 21^st century musical sensibilities. The joy of bringing the charts to life with an all-star lineup of today’s leading players. Many of us who grew up in the late 1950s came under the spell of Dave Brubeck with his 1959 Time Out release. Little did we know that Brubeck was also a key figure in the development of what became known as west coast cool with his octet recordings. This recording by De Lucia and associates proves that point. A few years prior to the release of the Miles Davis’ nonet recording. which became known as Birth of the Cool, Brubeck and a group of like minded musicians were transforming standards such as “Love Walked In,” “Love Me Or Leave Me” and “The Way You Look Tonight” as well as originals written by saxophonist Dave Van Kriedt (an original member of the octet) by combining the sonorities of modern classical music with elements of swing and bebop. The group De Luica assembled is more than up for the challenge with outstanding solos from De Lucia on alto (channeling Lee Konitz), Scott Robinson on tenor (often in a Warne Marsh mode), Glenn Zaleski on piano, Brandon Lee on trumpet. Jay Rattman on clarinet and baritone and Becca Patterson on trombone. Holding it all together is the tasteful and more than capable playing of bassist Daniel Duke and drummer Keith Balla. More than simply a recreation of the original Brubeck octet sessions, this recording is a celebration of the innovations Brubeck introduced to jazz, and it is sure to bring joy to fans of Brubeck and “progressive” jazz.

BOTTOM LINE: Saxophonist Jon De Lucia continues to mine the jazz vaults for interesting music that deserves wider attention. On The Brubeck Octet Project, he reintroduces us to a dozen selections from the recordings that launched Dave Brubeck’s career in the late 1940s. At the same time, this session reconfirms De Lucia’s reputation as an outstanding arranger, bandleader. alto player and a discoverer of often-neglected jazz classics.