Had there been a roof at the festival, Brubeck would have torn it off. And the explosion came via an unexpected choice: "Unsquare Dance," a song from his 1961 album "Time Further Out." Brubeck's quartet -- which included saxophonist-flutist Bobby Militello, bassist Michael Moore, and drummer Dan Brubeck, his son, who sat in for Randy Jones, who is recuperating from stent surgery -- beefed up the odd-metered cool-bop tune and gave it a rough edge, thanks to the driving, rock-infused work of the substitute drummer. The mood-varying set included classical touches, the blues, ballads, and bop, and concluded with a version of "Take Five" (of course) that was almost entirely a drum solo.
With 29 bands performing over two days -- plus two on Friday night -- the festival offered plenty of variety, though the annual event is beginning to take on something of a museum quality, with its growing number of performances that pay tribute to this or that jazz legend -- Ben Riley's Septet playing the music of Thelonious Monk, Eliane Elias's trio paying tribute to Bill Evans, Harry Allen and Trio da Paz doing Getz & Jobim tunes. Most of this material, though, was kept to the side stages.
Curious -- though we're not complaining -- that most of the music on the main stage yesterday was not jazz at all but blues and R&B, with the final sets done by Susan Tedeschi (a late replacement for the ailing Etta James), Al Green, and B.B. King.
Green, wearing a tuxedo, led his tight band through an uplifting set of Memphis-based rhythm-and-blues that at times was tinged with gospel. The reverend's voice retains most of its extraordinary range and pliability, and he gave it a workout on some of his hits from the '70s, including "Let's Stay Together," "Let's Get Married," and an extremely funky, extended version of "Love and Happiness."
