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:	05/28/2013
Label:	Columbia
UPC:	0888837180429
Rank:	37536

Tracks

1. Introduction
2. Take Five
3. Band Introduction
4. Nomad
5. Thank You
6. Castilian Blues
7. Introduction
8. Just in Time [From Bells Are Ringing]
9. Small World [From Gypsy]
10. Make Someone Happy [From Do Re Mi]
11. Rags to Riches
12. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) [From The Sky's the Limit]
13. I Left My Heart in San Francisco
14. Lullaby of Broadway [From Goldiggers of 1953]
15. Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)
16. That Old Black Magic
17. There Will Never Be Another You [From Iceland]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

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

Technical Credits

Frank Bruno   Engineer
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
Matt Cavaluzzo   Tape Transfer
Josh Cheuse   Design,Art Direction
Anthony Janek   Engineer
Don Hunstein   Photo Courtesy
Gretchen Brennison   Project Director
Paul Desmond   Composer
Harold Arlen   Composer
Abbie Rowe   Photography
Teo Macero   Original Recording Producer