The White House Sessions: Live 1962

by Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck

Overview

Since both were performing their own sets at the White House Seminar American Jazz Concert on the Sylvan Theater grounds on August 28, 1962, Tony Bennett and Dave Brubeck decided to perform an impromptu collaborative set together that day, and although one song from it was eventually released, a version of "That Old Black Magic," the rest of the hour-or-so-long tape ended up lost in the vast Sony catalog vault, filed, as it turned out, with several classical tapes, until it surfaced again shortly after Brubeck's death in 2012. Now finally available, it reveals two master performers at the very top of their respective games. Bennett's signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," had been released only a couple of weeks before the concert, while Brubeck's "Take Five" had just begun to take on its iconic significance. Brubeck and his quartet, Paul Desmond on alto sax, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums, played a four-song set, followed by a six-song set from Bennett and his band, with Ralph Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylor on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums. Then came an unrehearsed and impromptu four-song set from Bennett and Brubeck, with Wright on bass and Morello on drums (alto saxophonist Desmond sat out) that included versions of "That Old Black Magic" (the only track previously released before this), "Lullaby of Broadway," "Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)," and "There Will Never Be Another You," each of which purveys a loose, fun elegance that makes this archival find a true treasure. Bennett and Brubeck would not perform together again until both appeared and briefly reunited on-stage at the 2009 Newport Jazz Festival. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	06/17/2016
Label:	Impex
UPC:	0856276002152
Rank:	10386

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tony Bennett   Primary Artist
Dave Brubeck   Primary Artist,Piano
William B. Williams   Primary Artist
Dave Brubeck Trio   Primary Artist
The Dave Brubeck Quartet   Primary Artist
Eugene Wright   Bass
Hal Gaylor   Bass
Ralph Sharon   Piano
Joe Morello   Drums
Paul Desmond   Sax (Alto)
Billy Exiner   Drums

Technical Credits

Russell Gloyd   Executive Producer
Didier C. Deutsch   Release Production
Jule Styne   Composer
Mark Wilder   Mixing,Mastering,Release Production
A. Green   Composer
Dae Bennett   Release Production
Danny Bennett   Executive Producer
Ted Gioia   Liner Notes
Al Dubin   Composer
Dave Brubeck   Composer
R. Adler   Composer
Lisa Buckler   Project Director
Frank Bruno   Engineer
Gretchen Brennison   Project Director
Paul Desmond   Composer
Harold Arlen   Composer
Teo Macero   Original Recording Producer
Abbie Rowe   Photography
Don Hunstein   Photo Courtesy
Anthony Janek   Engineer
Josh Cheuse   Art Direction,Design
Matt Cavaluzzo   Tape Transfer