The Dave Brubeck Quartet

While we've heard a lot about Dave Brubeck, no one seems to realize that three other distinguished musicians were behind that name: Joe Morello, Eugene Wright, and Paul Desmond. They were one of the most cohesive jazz quartets to ever exist.

Dave and Morello would sometime jam on drums and piano while Eugene Wright comped on base with Paul Desmond cooling his heels until just the right moment, and then he would come in like a cool breeze on a hot Summers night, and that's just the way those lilting notes from his alto sounded, light and cool like a breeze.

The bass man, Eugene Wright was the unsung hero in the group, but not to this aficionado; that "boom boom boom" in the background was the foundation of the quartets sound, it set the tempo.

Joe Morello was one of the most unique drummers ever, no other drummer could quite duplicate the accents and emphasis he placed on unusual times such as 9/8, 5/4, 3/4, and 6/4 which were inspired by Eurasian folk music; as a matter of fact "Jazz Impressions of Eurasia" is one of my favorite CD's, check it out.

I will always cherish memories associated with the sound of "The Dave Brubeck Quartet".