Perhaps more than any other track on "Quartette Humaine, " "My Old Flame" empowers Bob James and David Sanborn to honor Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond in their own sweet way.

WSJ: The Jazz Scene: It's Cool in Brubeck's Shadow

Nearly all the nine tracks on "Quartette Humaine" have a moment, particularly near the end, when the bass (James Genus) and drums (Steve Gadd) come to the fore and build in intensity.

WSJ: The Jazz Scene: It's Cool in Brubeck's Shadow

The opener on "Quartette Humaine, " Mr. James's "You'd Better Not Go to College, " has both a title and a tune that suggests Brubeck's antic wit. (Contrastingly, the album's title suggests Raymond Scott rather than Brubeck.) You might assume that the funky closer, "Deep in the Weeds, " derives from Messrs.

WSJ: The Jazz Scene: It's Cool in Brubeck's Shadow