Broadcast on 16-Feb-2015

The Jazz Feature tonight is Dave Brubeck's first Columbia recording and it's called "Jazz Goes To College". It was recorded in early 1954 during a tour of Midwestern colleges and it marks an early peak for Brubeck. They had arrived! Critical and audience recognition and that same year Brubeck on the cover of Time Magazine. All of this before the advent of "Take Five" and other major hits. The Quartet with Paul Desmond on alto saxophone, Bob Bates on bass and Joe Dodge on drums and of course Brubeck on piano explore mostly standard tunes before a worshipful college audience anxious to escape the mindless pap that was pop music of the 50s and before the arrival of Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry etc. Only two originals are on the set both Brubeck/Desmond collaborations......the blues "Balcony Rock" and the mid eastern flavoured "Le Souk". This stuff is superb and well recorded. No wonder it became a best seller! Brubeck and Desmond....an unbeatable combination!