Exactly 50 years ago today, the Dave Brubeck Quartet played their last concert date as a regular unit. After being on the road more or less constantly since 1951, Brubeck was ready for a break. Luckily, a tape machine captured the concert, as well as some fun and excitement. Having just completed a European tour [...]
After a slate of instances where the various band members made references to Christmas tunes in their solos on non-Christmas songs, here's an instance of the opposite. On this, the only commercially released recording of the Dave Brubeck Quartet with Paul Desmond playing a Christmas song, Desmond managed to squeeze something else in there, too. [...]
In my last 'Desmond's Quotes' post, I spotlighted bassist Eugene Wright and his spectacular and festive references in his bass solo, showing that Paul Desmond wasn't the only one that could get off fun and witty quotes. I also mentioned how cool it would be if the drummer from one of Brubeck's groups had somehow [...]
After writing a piece profiling a 10-inch record, my interest in the other 10-inchers in my collection grew. Those clunky relics of the early 1950's are actually pretty neat. Especially when they come in crazy colors, like this album! The Music Tune: "Chopsticks Mambo" Recorded: November 1951 in California Personnel: Cal Tjader- Bongos Vince Guaraldi- [...]
Rolling along with the festive-themed 'Desmond's Quotes', this post highlights another band member of the Brubeck Quartet making Christmas references in their solo. This recording is unique in that there are numerous quotes and references flying around, and it's not just Paul Desmond that engages in the shenanigans. The recording that all this merry music-making [...]
As the Christmas season marches on, it's time for another variation of 'Desmond's Quotes'- Christmas Edition. This post focuses on the leader, Dave Brubeck, who was just as slick with the quotes and references as his friend Paul Desmond. And just like Desmond, he often used festive tunes as fodder for his own solos. This [...]
This record marked the fruitful beginning of both Gerry Mulligan's West Coast piano-less sound and the Pacific Jazz Records label. Both would do much to popularize the laid-back, more academic sound of jazz that blew in from the Coast. All of that began in 1952 with this album. The Music Tune: "Walkin' Shoes" Recorded: 15-16 [...]
Back to vinyl, back to records. This post is a nod to Dave Brubeck. Specifically, it's a post in honor of Dave Brubeck, who passed away five years ago on December 5th, 2012. He was 91, a day shy of his 92nd birthday. To celebrate (and reflect), I wanted to profile an Brubeck album of [...]
Christmas came early, for me anyhow. After a combo of school and lack of funds kept me away for months, I was able to make a trip down to my local record store. A few hours later, I walked out with too many records. Those records will be profiled here in the next few weeks, [...]
Out of all the songs Dave Brubeck penned over his lengthy career, my favorite is his tune "Nomad". Written by Brubeck during their tour of Eurasia in the spring of 1958 while in Afghanistan, the tune was first heard by the masses on Brubeck's album 'Jazz Impressions of Eurasia'. It has a haunting melody, interesting [...]
