Just discovered - Blue Rondo a la Turk

[tildeslash]

Went on a Youtube rabbit hole today. Started with Wolfgang VH new song video that was filled with humor, refreshingly eclectic and musically quite enjoyable.
Went on to some news, other videos, some shorts and then clicked Blue Rondo a la Turk.
I know I've heard this in passing or in the background at one time or another; but it never registered.
I am sure either the stars aligned or the sad rainy deary weather in NJ must have been just perfect for me to full get this song for what it is, a masterpiece.
I am not a Jazz fan. Only Jazz album I own is Kenny Burrell's Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas only because the Christmas Songs he covers are super sweet.
But "Blue Rondo a la Turk", this song captured me hard today. To me it sounded very sophisticated, playful and I had a hard time comprehending all the things happening in the tune. So I listened to it about a dozen times including versions covered by various people.
Now I will have to get the full album and go on a little journey this week.

I am posting this because I am your typical classic rock, blues, 80's metal music and Top 40 pop song music lover from various decades, some country and Indian Bollywood music since I grew up in India the first 12 years since birth. This song just took me by surprise, and I had to share my experience and emotions with someone.
Jazz is something I would never listen to because I found it boring, but this song is not linear and all the breakups in timing and Rythm is exciting.
Sometimes the YouTube Rabbit hole can yield some surprises.

 

[Cougar]

So, Brubeck, right? 9/8 is NOT your standard time signature! It's counted 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3. I like the version Brubeck at Carnegie Hall. The crowd goes nuts at this piece!

 

[ReevesRd]

9/8 is NOT your standard time signature.

9/8 is a compound triple meter.

Compound meters are cool in that you can change the way you count or feel them to create interesting rhythm patterns (ex. 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2-3 like Brubeck or you could reverse it 1-2-3 1-2 1-2 1-2). It's the same with compound quadruple 12/8 ... Isn't music theory fun? Now forget everything you've learned and just play.

 

[Guildedagain]

From Wulfie to Rondo that's how proper rabbitholing works ;[]

I went [temporarily] deaf at a Maiden concert in 1980 but that doesn't stop me from liking Brubeck even more, and I have Brubeck on CD but no eighties metal. This version here, wow!




The world has not improved in the meantime, my lifetime, I can see that, very sad.

Even what we thought was cool on MTV was already severely dumbed down.

 

[ReevesRd]

When a previous student contacts me, one of the things I often hear from them is how they still listen to fill in the blank. All of the eras of jazz are so important for young people to listen to. I can't imagine not knowing Brubeck, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Bird, Duke, and the list goes on and on.

You could also go back one step and start to talk about blues artists. But that's another rabbit hole.

 

[GGJaguar]

It reminds me a little of Penguin Cafe Orchestra's "Perpetuum Mobile". Seems like it's 13/8, but I was never good at time signatures crazier than 5/4.

 

[Guildedagain]

Better known Brubeck



If Jazz wasn't boring and you get towards the end, you start hearing bits of Bonham's Whole Lotta Love cymbal splashes, and then holy cow, everything Bonham wanted to be as a drummer.

 

[ReevesRd]

Seems like it's 13/8

It's 15/8. Six simple beats and one compound beat. 1-2 1-2 1-2-3 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2
Odd meter.

 

[AcornHouse]

This one in 7/4 is a fun one. Really a vehicle for the drummer the way they did it for the album.

 

[Canard]

Brubeck got dumped on a bit by music snobs.

His music is quite "straight" apart from his exploration of unusual metres, not a lot of looseness/elasticity/swing in it. His audience was largely college kids. It is safe Jazz (which I happen to like a lot, BTW). His sax player, Paul Desmond, while very good (and someone whom I like a lot), was kind of like a straight Cannonball Adderley.

There was undoubtedly jealousy and bitterness about his popularity and $ucce$$.

Charles Mingus (whom I love), however, seems to have taken a shot at Miles Davis (whom I also love) in defence of Mr. B:

It seems so hard for some of us to grow up mentally just enough to realize there are other persons of flesh and bone, just like us, on this great, big earth. And if they don't ever stand still, move, or "swing," they are as right as we are, even if they are as wrong as hell by our standards. Yes, Miles, I am apologizing for my stupid "Blindfold Test." I can do it gladly because I'm learning a little something. No matter how much they try to say that Brubeck doesn't swing-or whatever else they're stewing or whoever else they're brewing-it's factually unimportant.​

​

Not because Dave made Time magazine—and a dollar—but mainly because Dave honestly thinks he's swinging. He feels a certain pulse and plays a certain pulse which gives him pleasure and a sense of exaltation because he's sincerely doing something the way he, Dave Brubeck, feels like doing it. And as you said in your story, Miles, "if a guy makes you pat your foot, and if you feel it down your back, etc.," then Dave is the swingingest by your definition, Miles, because at Newport and elsewhere Dave had the whole house patting its feet and even clapping its hands....​

An open letter to miles davis — CHARLES MINGUS

www.charlesmingus.com

Nice shot, Charles!

 

[walrus]

For you guitarists:



walrus

 

[Canard]

And who do you think that the folkies, Bert and John, have been listening as evidenced here in the lead off track of Basket of Light:

 

[gjmalcyon]

Speaking of Time Further Out, my favorite cut from that album:



There is a mathematical precision and rigor to Brubeck's music and band that I hear nowhere else. It really rewards close listening to hear the subtle nuances.

I somehow feel smarter after a Brubeck listening session.

 

[Cougar]

This one in 7/4 is a fun one.

A great one (Unsquare Dance)! I used to try covering that one on keys. Actually, I also play Blue Rondo... well the first 16 or so bars, then it goes well beyond me....

 

[Prince of Darkness]

.... and then there's this

 

[Guildedagain]

Apparently filmography was quite advanced by then. Proper time capsule material, labeled... Brubeck, virtually a category on his own. The grunge of jazz?

 

[Guildedagain]

Only gets better.

 

[AcornHouse]

Only gets better.

One of my favorites. I love the version on the “We’re All Together Again for the First Time” album with Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan.

 

[Guildedagain]

Sounds even better on record, within a few bars, it's amazing. Early supergroup.

 

[Nuuska]

My oh my oh my

When I was kid - coming home from school there was a passage through local new department store - they played Take Five - loved it ever since - adopted the rhythm pattern right away.

Now - listening to all those videos in this thread - just - wow - thank you