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Show 8M The Sail Lake Tribune Friday, April By Nancy Melich Tribune Staff Writer Ernest Thompsons On Golden Pond, a small, quiet little play set Maine cottage, is in a much-love- d primarily a vehicle for performers. If you look too deep intq. the script, youll find gaping holes and a lot of whys that are never answered. So Dave Drubeck Group displays superlative abilities By John Paul Brophy For The Salt Lake Tribune There is a certain magic in the piano artistry of Dave Brubeck, and Wednesday evenings sell-operformance in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Utah was a special event that captured that essence of the man and his music. It was the same quartet which was last heard here a little over a ut Concert review Brubeck and his piano year ago son Chris on electric with along fretless bass and slide trombone; drums by Randy Jones, five-yeveteran of the group; Bill Smith playing clarinet, reunited with Brubeck from the octet of the late 40s. The form of the group was the only similarity as Brubeck & Co. gave an outstanding display of ensemble and virtuouso jazz stylings with a slate of tunes that touched more than a few musical bases. ar Sensitive Touch Opening with an extended solo on "St. Louis Blues Brubecks touch, so sensitive aqd full of feeling, was a combination of elements which the band joined to bring the piece full circle. Smith alternated a treb-lebarun to match Chris Brubecks rapid, blue bass runs as Dave worked the left hand in a delightful ragtime. The samba feel of Symphonies, Jones drum intro and snappy accents setting the mood, along with the funky bass from Chris and some piano fingering, had a joyous quality which was evident on all the musicians faces. ss high-octa- Pond devoid of battle 4On Golden 6, 1984 Throughout the evening, these guys expressions showed that they were truly enjoying themselves and that was contagious for the whole audience. Brubeck really took it back to the roots with a jazz variation of the oldest-know- n hymn, based on a Hebrew chant. The evolution of the piece to a Roman march to Gregorian chant was shown through a marvelous arrangement brought to life by Jones explosive, yet controlled snare and tom work. The quiet finish on this song was good, and the quartet employed well that type of ending on quite a few of the selections. Electronic Delay For Iola" was Brubecks first song ever dedicated to his wife, and the reverie, of the piece was enhanced by Smiths use of electronic delay on his clarinet. That technique also showed up on the classic Take Five, giving that work a contemporary freshness which nonetheless allowed visions of Paul Desmond to remain; as well they should, for that was the late saxophonists signature piece. Dave Brubecks remarkable ability to incorporate unique time changes came through with great clarity here and on another lively tune Theme for June. Brubeck has been continually progressing from the days of his most famous quartet, and the latest endeavor is work with Murray Lewis ballet, Glances, which has been seen in New York and is scheduled soon for a showing in Paris.. One section of the dance, Polly, which has the quartet onstage performing with the dancers,' was played this evening. A rousing number containing both polyrhythmic and polyharmonic structure (titled for a pretty neighbor girl), the song showed Brubecks innovative and creative genius to be alive and well. Theater je view Definitive Version Blue Rhondo a la Turk was another of the more familiar tunes which the great pianist brought out, much to my delight, with Bill Smith ringing his clarinet with flair to add to the excellent keyboard dimensions. Jazz vocalist A1 Jarreau put lyrics to the piece to take a Grammy last year, but the instrumental original still stands as the definitive version in my book. Following one trio piece, a light and airy Big, Bad Basie where Chris Brubeck showed a beautiful fluidity so well coordinated with his fathers statements, the bassist pulled out his trombone for Black and Blue. The stride piano of Fats Waller echoed a tremendous blues solo on that horn, which Bill Smith complemented with Dixieland clarinet sounds. The bone stayed for another workout on a Bach take-of- f Two Part Contention, Daves piano a subtle backdrop for the interplay between the clarinet and horn. The manner in which Brubeck would shift the solos to the other musicians, playing back-u- p rhythms to explore the essence of the piece, as opposed to any grandstanding displays, is a tribute to the greatness of the man. Closing with the encore of the Unsquare Dance, Dave Brubeck again made Salt Lake City, the second place he ever played and one of his admitted favorite places, grateful for the opportunity to hear his superlative jazz abilities. Billboards top records the trick is to fill the stage with actors who take you into the heart of Thompsons six characters, keeping your mind entertained and away from the incompleteness of the writing. Pioneer Memorial Theatres current production is inconsistent in projecting that attitude. There are isolated moments of enjoyment but the overall effect has a tiresome quality to it. The story concerns Norman and Ethel Thayer as they return for a 48th summer to their well-use- d haunt in New England. He's on the far edge of 70, she similarly set, but a decade younger. She says theyre middle aged; he counters, Middle age means the middle, Ethel. The middle of life. People dont live to be. 150. Youre old and Im ancient. Last Year For Norman, life this season is not pleasant. Hes suddenly become aware of his mortality. The fishing poles wont be used because he has no plans to step outside the house. He perceives the wobbily banister as another indication of his own creeking bones. And as for the screen door which has fallen off its hinges, well, no need to fix that. This will be his last year on Golden Pond. He is a difficult man, not interested in direct confrontation. Hes narrow in experience, doesnt seem to know much about the real world and a racist to boot. When talking to the mailman he proudly points out some of the charm of Golden Pond: There are no native Jews in Maine. Just as there are no native Negroes or Puer - to Ricans. . . its true you have your French Canadians, but at least tyiey speak French. So, its not quite so bad. Makes them sound intelligent. If lines like that are going to be funny, we have to like the character right from the beginning, get an instant feeling for his cantankerousness as well as his brand of humor. Norman is a paper tiger. He roars to keep people away from his softness. The difficulty with Richard Mathews Norman is that he shows a great deal of the pussy cat and very little of the tiger. He has a soft spoken voice and a pleasant expression on his bearded face. He walks around the cottage with a smooth there are no visible rough gait edges to his body. Nothing in his physical posture denotes a tough old man. Hes more Maurice Chevalier than James Cagney. Nichols gives Ethel a delightful eccentricity that is most welcome in this rather sleepy Golden Pond. The playwright obviously didnt think he could sustain an audience by leaving Ethel and Norman alone in the cottage, so he added an estranged daughter, a future a cocky teenager and simple-minde- d mailman to fill in some of the blanks. Each of these loosely drawn, scarcely seen characters present a difficult challenge to the actors portraying them, but this time around, the results are fairly satisfying. Anthony Auer, as the fiance, gives Norman a run for his money when the two men discuss the merits of violating women, while Alan Nash keeps his mailman from becoming a complete buffoon by not letting his nervous laugh get the upperhand. Joey Borgenicht is the teenager who comes to tame the tiger. Madelon Thomas presents a strong, secure daughter whose performance could only have been enhanced if her father had appeared more of a threat. As it was, the intended confronation between Chelsea and Norman left you wondering what all the tension had been about over the years. Welcome Retreat Steve Rubins cottage is a welcome retreat and has an appropriate mustiness to it. The slipcovers over the stuffed chairs need an airing and the glass bottles lined up like soldiers along the rafters serve as a fortress for the daddy long legs. Roger Marmaro brought effective afternoon and evening light to residence while Callie Floor dressed the New Englanders in comfortable fashion. Norman is particularly handsome in tweeds and bow tie. "Here Comes the Rain Again" (RCA) Hold Me Now" 8.- Contagious Energy There are isolated moments when Mathews gets riled up, but never to the point that he projects a curmuds geon capable of causing the to rattle. When Ethel describes him "as the sweetest man in the world, it seems appropriate, but when she adds, and Im the only one who knows it, the statement lands false. Mathews Norman IS a sweet old man, and because of that interpretation, some of the lines Thompson has written are out of place coming from this Normans mouth. wood-beam- His counterpart however is thoroughly satisfying and holds the production together in much the same way that Ethel keeps Norman in tow. Shes Josephine Nichols, a delightful actress who can put on a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt and still appear playfully elegant as the d wife of the resilient, old shoe. She moves with a contagious energy around the charming house, stopping on occasion to reminisce with her first love, a porcelain doll, or romantically lean out a window to get closer to the loons. Shes the dignified elderly woman you would love to have tea with or walk along the lake. Ms. good-humore- This production, directed by Jim Jansen, is pleasant, but devoid of battle. The subtle implication of how life and death fight for possession of ones mind and body never surfaces. And in the end, one cant help but questionwhether it is a good idea to return to Golden Pond every summer for nearly 50 years. ILAST WEEK OFSALE! HURRY! 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Copyright 1984, Billboard Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission. HOT SINGLES 1- .Focrtloose" Kenny Logglns (Columbia) 2- ."Agalnst All Odds" Phil Collins (Atlantic) 3- .Somebody's Watching Me" Rockwell (Motown) 4.- "Hello" Lionel Richie (Motown) 5- .Automatlc" Pointer Sisters (Planet) 6.- "Mlss Me Blind" Culture Club (Vlrgln-Eplc- ) 7.- .. Copyright 1984 ludri Corp f . |