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This was a pretty cheap buy if I remember correctly and I'm surprised I'm the only one on this site that owns it, for now anyway. The recording is pretty average and the song selection is pretty average too, as far as jazz goes. The back cover of this album states "Rare Live Recordings - Only For Collectors" and after that there's a big blurb stating this session is from private tapes and sound quality is not up to par and blah blah blah, but you turn it up loud enough and the music sounds great. Your able to hear all the instruments clearly and there's no crowd chearing accept at the ends of each track so that's ok too.
When you take a look at the track lengths it should come as no surprise that yes, every player in the group gets they're own solo, and a fair sized one. I think this album features the longest version of Take the "A" Train ever! I love longer tracks like this as they remind me of the old JATP sessions back in the 40's. Not that I was ever there but I do own a few of those tracks and they're still my favourite. The style that this quartet plays is pretty much cool jazz with a hit of hard bop at times. There isn't a whole lot to comment on the music, aside from the fact that it is awesome jazz at it's best played. This session was recorded before they became super famous after the 1959 recording of Time Out so it's interesting to hear this band a year before they recorded that classic album. Damn did they sound like the best quartet ever!
Credits/ Notes:
Bass - Eugene Wright
Drums - Joe Morello
Piano - Dave Brubeck
Alto Saxophone - Paul Desmond
Recorded live in Berlin, Germany, February 22, 1958.
Tracks 1 and 4 are previously unissued.
TRT: 75:30
