Brubeck & Rushing

Quotes

When Jimmy starts to sing, with a big band, small band or all-star group, every musician swings just a little bit harder. Jimmy is contagious! I consider it a privilege to provide a background in this album for Jimmy Rushing's voice. We didn't want to intrude on his style, simply to provide an accompaniment which would make him free. There were no suggestions as to how we should play behind him. We only knew that in working with Jimmy, we would have to rely on instinct to follow the feeling of the moment, to help him build the mood that he creates in a song. Jimmy is the daddy of them all. -Dave Brubeck

Extended Article

On paper, there would seem to be few less likely pairings than that of pianist-composer Dave Brubeck's quartet and singer Jimmy Rushing. Fortunately, recordings aren't made on paper, and few albums unite modern jazz and shouting the blues more effervescently than this long-out-of-print gem.

Rushing (1902-1972), known far and wide as Mr. Five-by-Five for his squat frame, was the greatest of all vocalists to come through the ranks of Count Basie's Orchestra. From 1935, when the band stormed out of Kansas City, to 1950, when economics necessitated that Basie disband, Rushing placed his personal stamp on, among other tunes. Goin' to Chicago Blues; Sent for You Yesterday, Here You Come Today and Evenin', which is wonderfully updated here.

Brubeck (b.1920) and altoist Paul Desmond, his closest musical associate, had grown up with Basie's music via radio broadcasts, and were big fans of Rushing. However, as Brubeck pointed out in notes contained in the book accompanying the four-CD boxed set Dave Brubeck: Time Signatures-A Career Retrospective: Most people thought it was my idea to have Jimmy Rushing sing with the quartet, but it was the other way around - the album was Jimmy's idea. Before we started, I asked him, 'Are you sure we're the right group behind you?' and he said, 'I've been listening to you for years, I know you're the right group behind me!' The session was a ball from beginning to end.

When these twelve sides (including the previously issued Shine on Harvest Moon) were made in 1960, the Brubeck Quartet was just beginning to reap the rewards of Take Five, which during the following year, would make the pop charts. For these sessions, the group checked its unusual time signatures at the door, dusted off some chestnuts and jazz favorites and provided their guest vocalist with timely accompaniment that was as coolly well-rounded as Mr. Five-by-Five was squarely built.

This edition of Brubeck and Rushing, newly remixed and remastered, features new notes by Brubeck, as well as a host of previously unpublished photos.

Contents

There'll Be Some Changes Made; My Melancholy Baby; Blues in the Dark; I Never Knew (I Could Love Anyone Like I'm Loving You); Ain't Misbehavin'; Evenin'; All By Myself; River, Stay 'Way From My Door; You Can Depend on Me; Am I Blue?; Shine on Harvest Moon*.

(*Previously unreleased bonus track.)

Jimmy Rushing, Vocals; Dave Brubeck Quartet: Dave Brubeck, Piano; Eugene Wright, Bass; Joe Morello, Drums; Paul Desmond, Alto Sax.

CD Special Features

Part of The Dave Brubeck Collection commemorating 50 years of active recording - A tribute to a living master & legend!