Tuesday, Feb. 21, 1961 University Daily Kansan
Page 7
Dave Brubeck sits back, relaxes and smiles after one of his frequent piano solos. Brubeck, the renowned jazz stylist, was calm and loose while supporting another member of the quartet, but full of concentration and drive when he had the lead.
Joe Morello, the drummer, beats a rhythmic tatoo above while Brubeck carries the lead.
Dave Brubeck's Jazz Concert Thrills KU Audience in Hoch
The Dave Brubeck Quartet, four musical wizards, enthralled and entertained a near capacity crowd at Hoch Auditorium Sunday night.
It was the variety, scope and execution of the music that kept the audience listening to each tone. The approach to each number was sometimes forceful, but other times pleading. Each of the four musicians had a definite mood he established while playing and each was able to draw the audience with him during his solos.
The soft, casual touch of the quartet belled the strain and tension the musicians had endured during the day in reaching Lawrence for the concert. An airline strike forced a four hour drive to Washington, D.C.before the quartet could board a plane for Kansas City. Then the four only arrived at Hoch five minutes before curtain time.
The quartet's approach to their music, one of obvious enjoyment, was easily detected by Brubeck's manner in introducing his numbers. Before one number, he said that they would start in 9/8 time, shift to 4/4 and finish at 9/8 again. Then he added jokingly that 9/8 is rarely used in composing and that it is even more difficult when improvising on it. That's what he said Desmond would do and that's what Desmond did.
The audience left Hoch thoroughly entertained. The concert was a success and a major contributor to this year's Campus Chest Drive.
Paul Desmond earnestly blows his sax. Desmond was completely relaxed throughout the performance, taking each solo with no apparent change in concentration.
Photos by Eric Jacobsen
Text by John Peterson
The picture shows the quartet as it looked from the wing of Hoch as Paul Desmond gets ready to play.
Gene Wright on the bass is the newest member of the Quartet. Wright strummed his bass with authority throughout the concert.