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Sunday, October 25 was became a memorable day at the Douglas Beach House (aka Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society) when the Brubeck Brothers Quartet arrived on stage with Chris Brubeck on electric bass and trombone, Dan Brubeck on drums, Mike DeMicco on guitar and Chuck Lamb on piano. As the audience gathered, some wondered whether father Dave Brubeck might make an appearance. Chris humorously nipped that hope in the bud from the very beginning of the concert. It appeared as though this was common attitude when the Brubeck brothers gather.

With their opening tune "West of One" (written by guitarist DeMicco and recorded on their album "Intuition"), it was clear that this quartet was one of the tightest to appear at the Beach House in a long time. The musicians knew their music. The music had become a part of them and that was further attested to because they did not use sheet music. (One exception to that occurred in their second set... and it showed.) Chris plays his bass in a unique style. Most of the time we see the bass tucked to the back of the band. Rarely is the bass at the head of the stage stepping the way through the number but that's what Chris did. As the pace quickened, Chris turned to pianist Lamb and the two of them played off of one another, smiling back and forth appreciating what the other was doing.

From their most recent album "Classified", they played "Dance of the Shadows." This began oddly as though no one was playing from the same page. Dan on the drums came in intermittently hitting hard and drowning out the rest of the group. However, that didn't last long. Chuck Lamb brought it all together with a Latin melody. He and guitarist DeMicco fused and laid that Brazilian sound down while Dan and Chris tastefully followed. They launched into a high energy, rapid phase of the piece and then came down soft and smooth. These four musicians are not only expressive but they are also impressive.

This band takes their audience through laid-back, mellow passages and then it can suddenly launch into high intensity music. Their tunes are varied and so one does not feel as though from one to the next that it’s simply a modification of something already heard. This keeps the audience anticipating what might come next and it draws them into the heart of the music.

For instance, in "Cool on the Coast," Lamb begins with a tender piano solo but just as soon as this part has stretched itself enough, he quickens the pace as the other band members slide into the piece and urging the intensity even higher but with the piano accenting the guitar's harmony. Finally, near the end of the piece, every-one still playing, Lamb broke from playing the keyboard, stroked the piano strings and suddenly there was silence. It was completely unexpected.

So much can be said about the Brubeck Brothers Quartet. It feels as though this group not only enjoys playing together but they are a perfect match by complimenting each other. Not only do they come highly recommended but it would behoove all to purchase their new album, "Classified." Most of this concert was based on this album. When all was said and done, the audience rose to its feet and gave an extended applaud. It was assumed that they would do an encore, but they left the stage.