Newport 1958: Brubeck Plays Ellington

by Paul Desmond, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Dave Brubeck

Overview

This 1958 set by the Dave Brubeck Quartet comes from the Newport Jazz Festival on a day which served as a tribute to Duke Ellington, with each band playing a set primarily drawn from Ellington's vast repertoire. Alto saxophonist Paul Desmond and drummer Joe Morello are in top form, as is bassist Joe Benjamin (who first worked with Ellington in 1951 and was his regular bassist from 1970 to 1974) who substitutes for Eugene Wright. The inspired choice of "Jump for Joy" makes for some of the most magical moments, while "Perdido" provides an extended workout for Desmond and Brubeck. "Liberian Suite Dance No. 3" is oddly described in the liner notes as coming from Black, Brown and Beige, though it is actually one movement of Ellington's Liberian Suite, which was premiered in late 1947 and quickly dropped from his repertoire. Brubeck's "The Duke," an elegant tribute to Ellington that showcases Desmond's lyrical alto and the exciting finale of "C Jam Blues" (the latter spotlighting Morello are also highlights. "Take the 'A' Train," omitted from the album credits, is heard as a one-chorus tag at the conclusion. It is a bit odd that several tracks were re-recorded several weeks later without explanation in the notes, evidently due to the audio problems which plagued Ellington's own set from that evening at Newport, though the applause is dubbed in at the conclusion of these selections. ~ Ken Dryden

Product Details

Release Date:	05/12/2017
Label:	SUPER D INDEPENDENT DIST.
UPC:	8719039001552
Rank:	40879

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Dave Brubeck Quartet   Primary Artist
Dave Brubeck   Primary Artist,Piano
Paul Desmond   Primary Artist,Sax (Alto)
Joe Benjamin   Bass
Gene Wright   Bass
Joe Morello   Drums

Technical Credits

Ted Grouya   Composer
Ted Parsons   Composer
Sid Kuller   Composer
Irving Townsend   Liner Notes
Duke Ellington   Composer
Juan Tizol   Composer
Billy Strayhorn   Composer
Mercer Ellington   Composer
Paul Francis Webster   Composer
Barney Bigard   Composer
Edmund Anderson   Composer
Ervin Drake   Composer
Dave Brubeck   Composer
Ted Persons   Composer
David Redfern   Cover Photo
Hans Lengsfelder   Composer
Jordan Stewart   Liner Notes
Mercedes Cuetos   Design