New York Philharmonic/ Dave Brubeck Quartet- Bernstein Plays Brubeck Plays Bernstein

DSCN1145This was a dollar.   I bought it for the West Side Story songs. Probably not the smartest idea I have ever had, starting the week off with jazz but in its defense, it is a pretty good album.

This album, released in 1961, is an interesting concept.  The first side is the New York Philharmonic orchestra with the Dave Brubeck Quartet conducted by Leonard Bernstein.  They are playing a piece Dialogues for Jazz Combo and Orchestra written by Dave’s older brother, Howard Brubeck.  The other side is the Dave Brubeck Quartet playing songs composed by Bernstein, mostly from West Side Story with “A Quiet Girl” from Wonderful Town.

From L to R: Howard Brubeck, Leonard Bernstein, Dave Brbubeck
From L to R: Howard Brubeck, Leonard Bernstein, Dave Brbubeck

I bought this for the West Side Story songs but was taken aback by the songs on the first side.  It is a combination of orchestral composition and jazz improvisation.  Based from a series of performances of this piece in December 1959, these tracks combine a structured orchestra arrangement and a more free form jazz technique.  The quartet is really given room to move against the framework of the orchestra. The two come together beautifully and it is one of the successful jazz-orchestra combinations out there.

It should be noted that a day after the last concert performance of this piece, the Quartet would release the album Time Out with the song “Take Five”, which is what they are best known for today.

The second side, suggested by the Quartet’s saxophonist, Paul Desmond, was decided as  good compliment to the first side.  These songs are okay.  They kind of took a back seat to the first side.  Both “Maria” and “Tonight” are favorites from the musical.  Could have used “America” if you ask me, but they did not so what can you do.  In all, the songs on the second side are good jazz interpretations.   Overall, this album went to # 13 on the Billboard charts.DSCN1146

It is interesting when I buy an album with a plan to showcase a certain track, (“Maria”) and after listening, end up with a completely different song .  In this case, I chose the first movement from the first side, “Allegro”. I guess that is what still makes doing this blog fun. I just wish it could have happened on a more popular album.

This is a satisfactory record for me.