Dave Brubeck: Audrey

Track

Audrey

Artist

Dave Brubeck (piano)

CD

Brubeck Time (Columbia/Legacy CK 65724)

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Musicians:

Dave Brubeck (piano), Paul Desmond (alto sax), Bob Bates (bass), Joe Dodge (drums).

Composed by Dave Brubeck & Paul Desmond

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Recorded: New York, October 12, 1954

Albumcoverdavebrubeck-brubecktime

Rating: 94/100 (learn more)


Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond at Birdland, photo by Marcel Fleiss

 At the 26th Annual Academy Awards in March 1954, Audrey Hepburn won the Best Actress Oscar for Roman Holiday (1953). Miss Hepburn had profited from recent exposure as a Time cover subject (9/7/53), as would Dave Brubeck that November. Among her many fans was Paul Desmond, who extemporized this willowy blues in tribute. Desmond’s self-described "dry martini" sound derived partly from Lester Young and partly from the opening high-pitched bassoon in Stravinsky's Le Sacré du Printemps. His lyricism, however, was pure Desmond. Paul's biographer Doug Ramsey reports Miss Hepburn played "Audrey" every night before sleep. She must've had sweet dreams.

Reviewer: Alan Kurtz

Tags:

  • 1 Per // Aug 12, 2008 at 03:34 PM
    Paul Desmond's "Audrey" reminds me of my first great love, Birgit.
  • 2 Dave // Nov 23, 2008 at 07:50 AM
    This song is fantastic. I have been a long time jazz devotee and this song is one of my favourites. Desmonds tone is outstanding and gives me chills everytime