Recording an album in a New York City Starbucks is a strange but impressive feat that most musicians will never accomplish, but if you are jazz great Dave Brubeck and have been recording for over 50 years, this is probably the only place you haven't recorded.
On his last album Park Avenue South, Brubeck took a chance and did just that. And on Aug. 31, Outpost Productions is taking a chance on Albuquerque when they bring the household jazz name Brubeck and his quartet to Popejoy Hall.
"I've been thinking about it for a couple of years," said Tom Guralnick, Outpost Productions executive director. "We occasionally do these big concerts and I felt if there was one jazz figure who could fill Popejoy Hall it is Dave Brubeck."
Brubeck, although he is 83 years old, has a full touring schedule and Park Avenue South was released in 2003 proving that his talents are ageless. Guralnick was happy to hear from Brubeck's manager that in one of his latest shows in California, Brubeck played an hour-and-a-half set then suddenly realized that he should probably take a break.
"He's an icon," Guralnick said. "He is really playing on this recent CD. The entire CD is really impressive."
While Brubeck will play pieces off this new album he also plans on playing favorites like "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo a la Turk."
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"One thing is that he is a tremendous cross-over artist," Guralnick said. "This show is for anybody who is into jazz, any era, and young people who want to hear where jazz came from and where it's been."
Guralnick pointed out that Brubeck has always had contemporary players in his quartet as he does now. Bobby Militello is on alto saxophone and flute, Michael Moore is on bass and Randy Jones on drums.
"It's not a stale rehashing of the past," Guralnick said.
Not that a rehash would be that bad. In his long career Brubeck has achieved great things. In 1999, The National Endowment of Arts presented him a Jazz Master's Award. He received the National Medal of the Arts, also from the NEA, in a White House ceremony. In 1996 he was inducted into the International Jazz Hall of Fame.
Brubeck has recorded a countless number of albums. And after all of that, a man deserves to be able to record at Starbucks if he wants to. One can only dream of enjoying a morning cup of joe while hearing the cool and melodic sounds of Brubeck and his quartet.
"Occasionally some brave soul would tap on the window between numbers, gesturing to be let in," Brubeck said in Park Avenue South's liner notes that describe the whole experience and are alone worth buying the CD for.
This Saturday tickets will be offered to students at a special rush price of $15.
General admission tickets are $65/$40/$35/$25 and are available at UNM at the Bookstore Ticket Office, The Pit or by calling 925-5858. Tickets are also available at www.tickets.com. For more information call Outpost Productions at 268-0044.
