At the 1971 Newport Jazz Festival, Gerry Mulligan and Paul Desmond joined the Dave Brubeck Trio for the Kern – Hammerstein standard All The Things You Are. The result is this masterpiece featuring a memorable Desmond solo and a portrait in syncopation, during the last few minutes, that will take your breath away!
Unsquare Dance is a song written by Dave Brubeck in 7/4 time … a most unusual time signature that seems to be as much fun to play as it is to hear! Brubeck recorded the video for PBS broadcast in 2001, live with the London Symphony Orchestra. His son Chris appears at the piano as well. Below that is the original 1961 recording of Unsquare Dance by Dave and his quartet. If you listen closely at the end, drummer Joe Morello sighs relief from the intensity of the tune with a quiet laugh and a “Yaaa!”
Once upon a time there was a Pop-Jazz radio station in New York City. It was the station that invented the music and news format as well as the very concept of “DJ” personalities. This iconic station was called WNEW-AM. During its 58 year history it developed a nearly cult-like following, becoming the radio home for millions of listeners, entertaining them with air talent that were the very essence of class and decorum … personalities who redefined the image of what a Disc Jockey was supposed to be.
I wish I could say that legacy WNEW went on to live happily ever after, but in 1992 the music died. The station jingles below were only some that were used on a regular basis between 1958 and 1966 to reinforce the station sound.
Metropolitan Radio Jingle
In the style of Count Basie
In the style of Dave Brubeck
In the style of Charlie Barnet
In the style of Erroll Garner
In the style of Stan Kenton
This rare performance of A-Train is from the Legends of Jazz, Piano Masters series with Ramsey Lewis hosting. For the first time in more than forty years, a American national network, PBS, aired a weekly program devoted to jazz. The series aired in 2006 and lasted only 13 weeks, but has become available on both DVD and CD for continuing enjoyment by jazz buffs everywhere.
Originally recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet for its 1959 album Time Out, the quartet featured Dave Brubeck on piano; Paul Desmond, alto sax; Joe Morello, drums; and Eugene Wright, bass.
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