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Rifftides

Doug Ramsey on Jazz and other matters...

Brubeck On The Beeb

June 25, 2009 by Doug Ramsey

YouTube has posted a few excerpts from programs the Dave Brubeck Quartet did for BBC television in 1964. The musical and the black and white video quality are superb. In the first one, I am struck by Brubeck’s delicacy at the keyboard and by the fullness of Paul Desmond’s alto saxophone sound. The critic Steve Race was the program host.

Race interviews Brubeck leading into a feature for bassist Eugene Wright. In the discussion, Brubeck earnestness and shyness are as noteworthy as Wright’s playing. One other point: Desmond used to speak with enthusiasm about Brubeck’s skill and sensitivity as an accompanist. In “The Wright Groove,” Brubeck’s comping behind Wright’s solo is evidence of what Paul was talking about.

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Comments

  1. Mel Narunsky says

    June 25, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    By the way, the critic (and former jazz pianist) Steve Race passed away a few days ago:
    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/steve-race-musician-and-broadcaster-best-known-for-his-association-with-the-programme-my-music-1715941.html

  2. Scott Magill says

    June 25, 2009 at 11:38 pm

    In “The Wright Groove,” I hear a quote of Jimmy Blanton from Ellington’s great bass feature, “Jack the Bear.” It begins around 3:37. I wonder how much of an influence Blanton was on Wright. I read an interview with Ray Brown saying he learned to play by playing along with Ellington/Blanton records and another interview with Percy Heath saying he wouldn’t talk to a young bass player if he/she didn’t know about Jimmy Blanton.

  3. Don Emanuel says

    June 27, 2009 at 5:53 pm

    You mentioned the BBC broadcasts and the “critic” and presenter Steve Race. Race was actually a pretty competent pianist and arranger. I was at Ronnie Scott’s Club in London the night Roland Kirk (who Race had critised in print as being a bit of a circus act)invited Race (who was in the audience) to sit in with him on piano. Race did so with much hesitation, especially when resident pianist Stan Tracey on giving up his place at the piano said to Race “by the way from here to here”, indicating an octave on the keyboard, “doesn’t work too well”. Race actually played competently but was rather overawed by the occasion.
    Incidentally the BBC, who never did or does broadcast very much jazz on its channels, at least had and has professional musicians as hosts on the few programs it does put out.

  4. Hal Strack says

    June 29, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    I certainly agree with Doug Ramsey about the relative richness of Paul Desmond’s playing, as well as the gentility and delicacy of Dave’s piano work. They all play together with restraint and care for the contribution of each to the whole of the effort. It has been my observation that Dave is at his very best when he seemingly reflects greater sensitivity, grace and stylistic simplicity than is his wont in occasionally more ponderous moments. These clips are excellent examples of the quartet at their “low-key”, contemplatively integrated best.

  5. Raul says

    October 23, 2009 at 9:50 pm

    and there’s more!


Doug Ramsey

Doug is a recipient of the lifetime achievement award of the Jazz Journalists Association. He lives in the Pacific Northwest, where he settled following a career in print and broadcast journalism in cities including New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, San Antonio, Cleveland and Washington, DC. His writing about jazz has paralleled his life in journalism... [Read More]

Rifftides

A winner of the Blog Of The Year award of the international Jazz Journalists Association. Rifftides is founded on Doug's conviction that musicians and listeners who embrace and understand jazz have interests that run deep, wide and beyond jazz. Music is its principal concern, but the blog reaches past... Read More...

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Doug’s Books

Doug's most recent book is a novel, Poodie James. Previously, he published Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond. He is also the author of Jazz Matters: Reflections on the Music and Some of its Makers. He contributed to The Oxford Companion To Jazz and co-edited Journalism Ethics: Why Change? He is at work on another novel in which, as in Poodie James, music is incidental.

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