Dave Brubeck was a pioneer in the presentation of intimate concerts in colleges and universities and —in the better— small concert halls. The show at the Wilshire Ebell theatre, in Los Angeles, was one of the later, and probably one of Brubeck’s biggest personal triumphs to date. It set high artistic standards mainly thanks to the college students (UCLA) who were aiming to bring good jazz groups to the creative atmosphere of the concert stage. The event was recorded by Dick Bock, and appears now for the first time on CD. That year 1953, the Brubeck Quartet won both the Down Beat popularity poll, and the Down Beat critic’s poll. After this, he would soon become the most popular jazz artist since Benny Goodman.
Dave Brubeck Quartet:
Paul Desmond (as), Dave Brubeck (p), Ron Crotty (b), Lloyd Davis (d).
9 Tracks. Recorded at Wilshire Ebell, Surf Club, Bill Bates’ home studio. Los Angeles, 1953. And Black Hawk, San Francisco, 1953.