Jazz at Oberlin [LIVE]

Ron Crotty, Paul Desmond, Dave Brubeck

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Original Release Date: March 2, 1953
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Ojc
• ASIN: B000000Y2W
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,573 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Music > Jazz > Live Albums > Cool Jazz
  #73 in	Music > Jazz > Cool Jazz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not only guilt-free but absolutely essential., January 12, 2003

By	Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I find it hard to believe that when I arrived on a college campus in the early sixties I was quickly indoctrinated by the "insiders" among the jazz players into disavowing any interest in the music of Brubeck or Desmond. Both were deemed not only too commercial but too West Coast, too white, too fay, too unaffected by the Bird revolution.

Not only is the foregoing among the most myopic viewpoints ever shared by musicians, but it is equally mistaken to assume Brubeck's music is not a force to be reckoned with until the "Time Out" recordings. Let the Oberlin record speak for itself: it represents improvisation of the highest order by two musicians at the very peak of their creative powers.

Take Paul's solo on "Just the Way You Look Tonight": He quotes from Prokofief, Stravinsky, and at least 3 American composers while building an emotional, pyrotechnical, beautifully structured solo spurred on by the audible vocal encouragements of Brubeck himself. Who could follow that? Brubeck does, not only matching but possibly topping it, with thunderous, wildly inventive yet boldly assertive, polyrhythmic melodic statements played in octaves in the left hand.

There's a widespread myth, proven wrong time and again, that the best music occurs when great soloists are accompanied by equally heralded drummers and bass players. To the contrary, the most spirited and swinging jazz always happens when players know their roles and listen to each other.

Before your jazz collection numbers more than 10 albums, make certain that this is one of them.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I WISH I WAS IN THE AUDIENCE WHEN THIS WAS MADE!, February 3, 2000

By	Alex Udvary (chicago, il United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

One of my favorite albums that I own! This was made before the group really hit it big with "Take Five" or "Blue Rondo A La Turk". The chemistry between Brubeck and Desmond is unbeleievable! The highlights are "How High the Moon"-this is a song I never really cared much for,but listen to Desmond's solo! It's one of the best solo's I ever heard Desmond take! Brubeck's solo on "The Way You Look Tonight" is my favorite solo of his on the entire album. And on "Perdido" the group really swings! If you listen closely you'll hear just how great Ron Crotty(Bass) and Lloyd Davis(Drums) kept perfect time with Desmond and Brubeck. YOU HAVE TO HEAR IT ...TO BELIEVE IT!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless, December 2, 2002

By A Customer

This recording is 50 years old but loses none of its luster. The sheer joy of the performance and the appreciation of the audience makes this album pure pleasure. The last four tracks are among the best that Brubeck and Desmond ever did. The creativity and chemistry among the musicians has few rivals in the jazz genre. Amusing quotes and references to other songs, quasi-classical forms including Bach-like fugues between Brubeck and Desmond make for much fun in listening (I always hear something new) and it swings!