In 2007, Dave Brubeck received the first Legends Award from the Monterey Jazz Festival. 50 Years of Dave Brubeck: Live at Monterey Jazz Festival 1958-2007 encapsulates a well-rounded history of the festival, of Brubeck's storied career, almost a history of jazz itself, within its package.

"Take Five," a highlight of these histories, reminds me how Paul Desmond's dry crisp alto sax will dance with Brubeck's piano forever, their sounds eternally linked. Brubeck's solo bursts from this 1966 version to explore every implication of Desmond's famous "in five" rhythm. From '71, Gerry Mulligan's baritone sax moves dark and slow through Brubeck's ruminative "Sermon on the Mount," then brightens and hops into "Jumping Bean," matching Brubeck's piano bounce for bounce. 50 Years also features Brubeck's sublimely beautiful solo piano eulogy for Mulligan, "Goodbye Old Friend."

To me, it seems impossible to adequately describe Brubeck's playing, and it's seemed that way for years. His taste and ability on piano are vast: "I Got Rhythm" and "Hooray for Hollywood" erupt from his rambunctious rhythmic reshaping of "Someday My Prince Will Come" ('62) and the web he weaves around "I Got Rhythm" (2002) expands to catch "We're in the Money."

Brubeck's genius seems so encompassing that no matter what you wish to write about it, its opposite holds equally true: His playing is almost fiercely cerebral but not at the expense of direct emotional honesty; powerfully propulsive, but never sacrificing articulation and sensitivity for the release of rhythm, no matter how hard it swings.

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