Dave Brubeck and Don Draper | From the Vault

As people, Dave Brubeck and Don Draper (the main character from ‘Mad Men’) have little in common. They do however, share a remarkable capacity to transport you through time. Pour yourself a martini and take a trip back to the early 1960′s.

Excerpt found on www.wolfgangsvault.com

As people, Dave Brubeck and Don Draper have almost nothing in common. It’s hard to think of Draper without also thinking of sexism, adultery, homophobia and racism. Brubeck, on the other hand, has long been considered a cultural and musical ambassador of the U.S., and even Condoleezza Rice grew up listening to his music.

The two do share one ability though, and that’s the power to transport you in time to the early 1960s. The Dave Brubeck Quartet defines the sound of the Mad Men era, and this Newport Jazz Festival performance will make you wish you had a shaker on your office desk instead of that luke warm coffee. Close your eyes while listening and you may wake up to find a cocktail in your hand and an ash tray full of Lucky Strikes.

Take the Quartets’ performance of "Swanee River Boogie." Paul Desmond’s alto sax, one of the most distinctive voices in jazz, has been described as "the sound of a dry martini" (it’s true!). Brubeck digs in with some authoritative, energetic solos on the keys. And his spirited trading of eights with drummer Joe Morello (at a time when others were working off twos and fours) near the end of the piece is a highlight. Based on "Old Folks at Home," which was written by Stephen Foster in 1851, the musicians leave no trace of the 19th century in their interpretation.

Dave Brubeck has time and time again proved his place in the history of jazz. This California native has performed internationally for over 55 years. Brubeck has gone on to compose orchestral works, while also playing, alongside his three sons, in Two Generations of Brubeck. In 1994, Brubeck was inducted into the Down Beat Hall of Fame. Today, at age 90, Brubeck is still swingin’, as seen with his recent appearance at the 2009 Newport Jazz Festival. A timeless treasure, we gladly present this 1960 performance of the Dave Brubeck Quartet to you…shaken, not stirred.

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