Album

John Salmon, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, has been heralded by Dave Brubeck himself as a brilliant interpreter of both the jazz pianist's composed pieces and his jazz works. The majority of these 2002 sessions focus on Brubeck's less widely known compositions for classical piano. Salmon devours the challenging "Chromatic Fantasy Sonata." The opening segment, "Allegro Molto," was inspired in part by Johann Sebastian Bach's Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor, though there is a brief lick that sounds very similar to Tadd Dameron's "Hot House" within it. The complete work was originally commissioned for a chamber music group consisting of violin, viola, cello, oboe, and piano. The closing segment, "Chaconne," incorporates a Mexican rhythm, jazz, and blues in a breathtaking performance. The five selections from "Two-Part Adventures" are all delightful miniatures, highlighted by the humorous canonic "Chasin' Yourself." "Tritonis" has an intriguing history. Initially written for guitar and flute, it became a part of the Dave Brubeck Quartet's concert repertoire. Salmon responds to the challenges of this polytonal piece with another superb effort. In addition to Brubeck's laudatory liner notes, he paid the younger musician the ultimate complement by naming "The Salmon Strikes" in his honor (though it also represents a long battle Brubeck had trying to land a salmon on a fishing trip). While it too is a demanding work, Salmon salutes its composer with his own dramatic rendition. Recorded on the campus where John Salmon works, the intimate sound makes it seem like a private recital for one. Highly recommended.

© Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

CD 1
Dave Brubeck Composer Chromatic Fantasy Sonata, version for solo piano Work 29:05 John Salmon Piano
1	Allegro molto	5:37			$0.99
2	Chorale	6:26			$0.99
3	Fugue	4:40			$0.99
4	Chaconne	12:22			$1.99
Dave Brubeck Composer Two-part Adventures, for piano Work 5:50 John Salmon Piano
5	Bach Again	1:03			$0.99
6	Brotherly Love	1:26			$0.99
7	Winter Ballad	0:53			$0.99
8	The Eleven Disciples	1:39			$0.99
9	Chasin' Yourself	0:49			$0.99
Dave Brubeck Composer Tritonis, for guitar & flute Work John Salmon Piano
10	Tritonis, for guitar & flute	13:04			$2.49
Dave Brubeck Composer The Salmon Strikes, for piano Work John Salmon Piano
11	The Salmon Strikes, for piano	3:06			$0.99
Dave Brubeck Composer The Rising Sun Work John Salmon Piano
12	The Rising Sun	3:44			$0.99