At Carnegie Hall
Encyclopedia
At Carnegie Hall is a jazz
album
by The Dave Brubeck Quartet. It was recorded at the famed Carnegie Hall
in New York City
on February 21, 1963. It was described by critic Richard Palmer as "arguably Dave Brubeck's greatest concert" and a "truly majestic record that should be in every serious collection"; for Don Mather it is "one of the all time great live jazz performances". http://www.musicweb.uk.net/jazz/2001/June01/Brubeck.htm
Ironically, original expectations for the concert were low. Not only was drummer Joe Morello recovering from a case of the flu at the time, but New York had been suffering from a newspaper strike, and the group was worried that the attendance would be sparse.
The worries were groundless: the hall was full; the group, whose long history together (the newest member, bassist Wright, had joined four years earlier) had by then made them extraordinarily close-knit, turned in an exciting, sparkling performance. It featured a remarkable level of co-ordination among the members of the group, at the same time as they display a relaxed yet powerful virtuosity. The latter was especially displayed in their numerous extended, yet still melodious, solo improvisations.
High points include a particularly swinging rendition of For All We Know, relaxed and assured versions of Brubeck's odd-meter material (especially Three To Get Ready and It's a Raggy Waltz) and a memorable, powerful, and fascinating drum solo on Castilian Drums where Morello works up from pianissimo finger drumming, thru brushwork, to thrillingly exuberant virtuoso stickwork. The highlight of the concert is a remarkable rendition of the Brubeck classic Blue Rondo à la Turk
, which starts off at a seemingly impossible pace, yet later builds in intensity as the tempo first slows for some intense solos, and then doubles again for a thrilling climax.
The album is somewhat unusual because it contains the complete concert; the producer
, Teo Macero
, noted that "not a note or a phrase of the musical part of the program has been deleted". The only change was to move It's a Raggy Waltz, originally heard after Eleven-Four, to a later position; this was done to allow the concert to fit onto two LP records
.
Curiously, however, Macero's claim is only 99% true; the original LP cut the ending of Castillian Drums by one beat. This "missing beat" has been restored on the recent CD reissue. Also, some of Brubeck's announcements (and Macero's introduction) from the stage were replaced (possibly because they were clearer in sound), but the originals remain on the reissue.
The liner notes (by George Simon, jazz critic for the New York Herald Tribune
) include extensive comments by Brubeck on each selection.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by The Dave Brubeck Quartet. It was recorded at the famed Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on February 21, 1963. It was described by critic Richard Palmer as "arguably Dave Brubeck's greatest concert" and a "truly majestic record that should be in every serious collection"; for Don Mather it is "one of the all time great live jazz performances". http://www.musicweb.uk.net/jazz/2001/June01/Brubeck.htm
Ironically, original expectations for the concert were low. Not only was drummer Joe Morello recovering from a case of the flu at the time, but New York had been suffering from a newspaper strike, and the group was worried that the attendance would be sparse.
The worries were groundless: the hall was full; the group, whose long history together (the newest member, bassist Wright, had joined four years earlier) had by then made them extraordinarily close-knit, turned in an exciting, sparkling performance. It featured a remarkable level of co-ordination among the members of the group, at the same time as they display a relaxed yet powerful virtuosity. The latter was especially displayed in their numerous extended, yet still melodious, solo improvisations.
High points include a particularly swinging rendition of For All We Know, relaxed and assured versions of Brubeck's odd-meter material (especially Three To Get Ready and It's a Raggy Waltz) and a memorable, powerful, and fascinating drum solo on Castilian Drums where Morello works up from pianissimo finger drumming, thru brushwork, to thrillingly exuberant virtuoso stickwork. The highlight of the concert is a remarkable rendition of the Brubeck classic Blue Rondo à la Turk
Blue Rondo à la Turk
"Blue Rondo à la Turk" is a jazz standard composition by Dave Brubeck. It appeared on the album Time Out in 1959. It is written in 9/8 and swing 4/4.-History:Brubeck heard the unusual "1-2/1-2/1-2/1-2-3" rhythm performed by Turkish musicians on the street...
, which starts off at a seemingly impossible pace, yet later builds in intensity as the tempo first slows for some intense solos, and then doubles again for a thrilling climax.
The album is somewhat unusual because it contains the complete concert; the producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, Teo Macero
Teo Macero
Teo Macero , born Attilio Joseph Macero, was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and record producer...
, noted that "not a note or a phrase of the musical part of the program has been deleted". The only change was to move It's a Raggy Waltz, originally heard after Eleven-Four, to a later position; this was done to allow the concert to fit onto two LP records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
.
Curiously, however, Macero's claim is only 99% true; the original LP cut the ending of Castillian Drums by one beat. This "missing beat" has been restored on the recent CD reissue. Also, some of Brubeck's announcements (and Macero's introduction) from the stage were replaced (possibly because they were clearer in sound), but the originals remain on the reissue.
The liner notes (by George Simon, jazz critic for the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
) include extensive comments by Brubeck on each selection.
Side 1
- "St. Louis Blues" (W. C. Handy) - 11:52
- "Bossa Nova U.S.A." (D. Brubeck) - 7:21
- "For All We Know" (S. Lewis - J. F. Coots) - 9:38
Side 2
- "Pennies From HeavenPennies from Heaven (song)"Pennies from Heaven" is a 1936 American popular song with music by Arthur Johnston and words by Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name...
" (J. Burke - A. Johnston) - 10:15 - "Southern Scene (Briar Bush)" (D. Brubeck) - 7:12
- "Three To Get Ready" (D. Brubeck) - 6:40
Side 3
- "Eleven-Four" (P. Desmond) - 3:44
- "King For a Day" (I. Brubeck - D. Brubeck) - 6:15
- "Castilian Drums (Parts I and II)" (D. Brubeck) - 14:14
Side 4
- "It's a Raggy Waltz" (D. Brubeck) - 6:47
- "Blue Rondo à la TurkBlue Rondo à la Turk"Blue Rondo à la Turk" is a jazz standard composition by Dave Brubeck. It appeared on the album Time Out in 1959. It is written in 9/8 and swing 4/4.-History:Brubeck heard the unusual "1-2/1-2/1-2/1-2-3" rhythm performed by Turkish musicians on the street...
" (D. Brubeck) - 12:40 - "Take FiveTake Five"Take Five" is a jazz piece written by Paul Desmond and performed by The Dave Brubeck Quartet on their 1959 album Time Out. Recorded at Columbia's 30th Street Studios in New York City on June 25, July 1, and August 18, 1959, this piece became one of the group's best-known records, famous for its...
" (P. Desmond) - 7:15
Personnel
- Dave BrubeckDave BrubeckDavid Warren "Dave" Brubeck is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills...
- PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Paul DesmondPaul DesmondPaul Desmond , born Paul Emil Breitenfeld, was a jazz alto saxophonist and composer born in San Francisco, best known for the work he did in the Dave Brubeck Quartet and for penning that group's greatest hit, "Take Five"...
- Alto saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846... - Eugene WrightEugene Wright"The Senator" Eugene Wright is an American jazz bassist, best known for his work as a member of The Dave Brubeck Quartet, in particular on the group's most famous album Time Out , with pianist Brubeck, drummer Joe Morello and saxophonist Paul Desmond.Wright, nicknamed "The Senator", had played...
- Double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - Joe MorelloJoe MorelloJoseph Albert Morello was a jazz drummer best known for his 12½-year stint with The Dave Brubeck Quartet. He was frequently noted for playing in the unusual time signatures employed by that group in such pieces as "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo à la Turk"...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Personnel - Production
- Teo MaceroTeo MaceroTeo Macero , born Attilio Joseph Macero, was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and record producer...
- Producer, Liner Notes - Peter Rachtman - Concert Producer
- George T. Simon - Liner Notes