Features: Black & White
When Ralph Gleason asked Dave Brubeck to appear on his
television series Jazz Casual, in 1961, it was only natural; not only
was the Dave Brubeck Quartet one of the most popular jazz combos in
the world at that time and a favorite at clubs in San Francisco, but both
Dave Brubeck and his featured alto sax player Paul Desmond were Bay
Area natives (Brubeck was born in Concord, Desmond in Berkeley).
This episode features the quartet performing Paul Desmonds
1961 jazz classic "Take Five." This lineup of the quartet, with Brubeck
on piano, Desmond on alto sax, "Senator" Eugene Wright on bass, and
Joe Morello on drums, was considered by many, including Gleason and Brubeck himself to be the best of the Brubeck Quartet
luneups to date.
The cover photo on this volume, by Jerry Stoll, is a rare treat
in and of itself. As Jazz Casual Casual was recorded and mixed "live" to videotape, the noise of a still camera was discouraged. So this photo comes from the only roll of still photograph film on Jazz Casual production set known to exist!---Toby Gleason
Toby Gleason is a 30-year music business veteran, nationally credited voiceover performer, and son of Ralph J. Gleason.
Editor's Note
Dave Brubeck and his band gained popularity in the early sixties with their hit "Take Five," an influential and now ubiquitous piece that helped to usher in a brief "odd-time signature" craze in jazz. However, Brubeck was never really about such gimmicks, as his signature classical tinged jazz compositions and playing are consistently both challenging and extremely listenable. Here he performs with one of his best bands, featuring the great Paul Desmond on alto sax. Featuring six songs.
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