Ivories Will Be Tickled

It is no easy task to fill in for a talented musician such as Ramsey Lewis (the pianist announced he will be suspending all performances owing to an undisclosed “medical issue”), but one cannot deny that Dave Brubeck — one of the biggest living legends on the national jazz scene — is more than a suitable replacement to lead the band on the ivories while the main man recovers. This Friday night, the Arsht Center kicks off its anticipated Jazz Roots concert series with a Legends of Jazz show that truly rises to the occasion.

At 87 years of age and still actively writing, recording, and touring, Brubeck came to national prominence after his quartet's 1959 Take Five album went platinum thanks to songs such as “Blue Rondo à la Turk,” “Pick Up Sticks,” and the title track became instant standards that still resonate to this day. Sharing the stage with Brubeck at this special South Florida concert is a who's who of jazz. Clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera has built a highly respected career both as a leader and sideman, appearing alongside the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Yo-Yo Ma, and Rosa Passos. Backing band Fourplay is an all-star group comprising keyboardist Bob James, bassist Nathan East, drummer Harvey Mason, and guitarist Larry Carlton. Rounding out the group is Chicago-based Kurt Elling, a vocalist who has been taking the technique known as vocalese to new, greater heights. The presence of all these gentlemen on a single stage is reason enough to say this is a concert not to be missed. It begins at 8 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 7, 2008