Dave Brubeck Quartet
The prime draw of this group was always the contrast between Brubeck’s driving, often thrillingly bombastic piano and Paul Desmond’s sublimely cool alto sax. General consensus is that the Time Out version of the band, with Eugene Wright and Joe Morello, was the best. But we’re also partial to 1954’s Jazz Goes to College (Sony Legacy), featuring the Bob Bates/Joe Dodge rhythm section and two brilliant examples of spontaneous improv, “Balcony Rock” and “Le Souk.”
