The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Buried Treasures (1998)

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With Matt's dad in declining health, Jeff suggested that today's album should be "one for Dad." We discuss Dave Brubeck's Buried Treasures, an archival release which was originally recorded across three nights in Mexico City back in May of 1967. Notably, Dave took the stage with his quartet, featuring legendary saxophonist Paul Desmond, bassist Eugene Wright and drummer Joe Morello. As Brubeck writes in the liner notes, the concerts were recorded for Bravo! Brubeck!, an album that had a "Latin American themed" concept.

Bravo! Brubeck! was released that same summer and the concept for the record meant that anything that didn't fit the theme was left on the shelf.  Which means a lot of material went unheard for years. The Buried Treasures release gave Brubeck fans a fresh round of cuts from what had been an extremely inspired run of shows. The liner notes, written by Brubeck, offer an extensive look behind the curtain of the performances. A separate booklet details Brubeck's history with Columbia Records. All of this makes for a fascinating journey into the world of Dave Brubeck if you're up for the trip.

But that's just one part of today's episode. We discuss a number of different topics, including dads and parents in general, the sacrifices they make that we often don't know about until years later -- and getting a chance to repay the gifts. Some debts can never be truly repaid, but the gratitude lasts a lifetime. This one's for you, Dad.

P.S. Get yourself a copy of Philip Clark's book, Dave Brubeck: A Life in Time. It's a must.

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