Brubeck & Rushing
An odd pairing on a couple of counts. First, there's the discrepancy between the innate swing ofJimmy Rushing's phrasing and Brubeck's notorious stiffness. (In one off-kilter moment, the singer exclaims "tell the truth, man... play it, home!" behind the pianist's ultraterse, bluesless, soft-pedaled solo on "Blues in the Dark.") Second, there's Rushing's enormous, rough-textured voice juxtaposed against the sweet, soft, lithe alto sax counterlines ofPaul Desmond. It's the latter relationship that carries this 1960 session, though to be fair Brubeck rises to the occasion too, his spare playing--along with the unimpeachable bed created by associates Gene Wright, on bass, and Joe Morello, on drums--providing an exquisite showcase for theBasiebelter. Don't miss Rushing slightly rolling his r's on "Evenin'"--the exquisite diction of blues aristocracy! --John Corbett