Dave Brubeck!Ramsey Lewis!!

 The high light of our concert season at Penn State this year was an incredible double header with Dave Brubeck, the father of "Cool Jazz", and Ramsey Lewis, one of the great pop-jazz pianists of the late 20th century. Arriving in the Eisenhower Auditorium (not THAT Eisenhower, but his brother, former president of Penn State - an accomplished family), we were treated to two jazz legends in one evening.

Brubeck is now 92, and has been touring with Lewis for a some years to share some of the performance load. Brubeck opened the show with his quartet. A little fumbly on the first piece, he settled in nicely for the rest of the first show. We especially liked his bassist, and the saxaphonist was pretty good too. I've always know Brubeck as more of a composer and rhythmic genius, and that was born out here. Not a lot of pyrotechnics at the keyboard, but an incredible sense of timing and space in the music. Ann had seen Brubeck in the mid 1970's in Ann Arbor near the peak of his career, and it was a treat for her to see him again at the end of his career.

Nearing intermission, Brubeck had a conversation with his crew, and announced that he'd played about as much as he could. Apparently, he'd just had a pacemaker implanted recently, and was kind of performing against his doctor's wishes! So his band helped him to his feet, and he shuffled off the stage to a standing ovation. We wondered aloud if this was going to be his last tour.

Ramsey Lewis

After the break out comes Ramsey Lewis and his trio. I was unfamiliar with Lewis besides his name, but wow, what a player! Great technical skill, dynamics, and showmanship. Interpretations of classic jazz and popular tunes that really swung, super smooth and accomplished playing, and a wonderfully precise and fluid percussionist. He seemed to dance at the drums. One of the great live concerts I've been to, and a memorable close to a memorable evening.