More or less from the beginning of their association, Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond had an affinity for blues in minor keys. Three that achieved success to the point of indelible identification with them were “Balcony Rock,” first recorded in Jazz Goes To College (1954), the same theme recycled as “Audrey” for Brubeck Time (1956), and “Koto Song” from Jazz Impressions Of Japan (1964). “Koto Song” was a new entry in the quartet’s repertoire when they played it on television in Belgium in ’64. This is the group usually referred to as the classic Dave Brubeck Quartet, with Eugene Wright, bass, and Joe Morello, drums.
Next time: the final installment of this series of DBQ pieces from Belgium.
But beautiful! What a lovely moment in time, to see and hear Dave and Paul still experimenting a bit with that gorgeous theme, both of them still expansive in their solos–before they pared things down to straightforward Orient-East rather than rich and strange and flowing free. This photo proto-Koto could easily become my favorite version… in toto.
I am happy to have a DVD film of this concert and derive an exquisitive pleasure from watching it from time to time,”Koto song” being one of my most admired pieces.I happened to hear koto in the Moscow Conservatory and it seems Dave Brubeck penetrated the essence of this beautiful Japanese instrument with his perfect ear.Paul Desmond’s solo here makes my heart sank every time I hear it.
Thank you for remembrance,Doug.