The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Born in 1920, pianist Dave Brubeck is still creating powerful music today, but it was more than five decades ago that he assembled the innovative quartet featuring alto saxophonist Paul Desmond that became one of the most popular ensembles in the history of jazz. This edition of Microgroove Music brings together a variety of lesser-known items from the band's discography, many of which demonstrate these musicians' mastery of the blues form. One piece was written for an opera based on a story by Gertrude Stein, another is from a bizarre concept album that tries to simulate the ambiance of an exclusive Hollywood party, and others originated from an actual live broadcast from the bandstand of a Boston nightclub. A duo by the pianist with bassist Charles Mingus rounds out this group of audio gems.

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