Dave Brubeck at Ripon College 1959

Dave Brubeck 1920-2012

On February 4^th, 1959, David Brubeck and his fellow quartet members, Paul Desmond, Joe Morello and Gene Wright played the first jazz concert at Ripon College to a capacity plus crowd of over 675.  The quartet started the night with W.C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues” and in the first set played several selections reflecting on their travels to Eurasia and Germany.  The group had spent part of 1958 traveling on behalf of the State Department on a good will trip to Afghanistan and other Eurasian countries. The second set focused on improvisations with noted a noted saxophone solo from Paul Desmond and drum solo from Joe Morello.

                                                      Brubeck signing autographs

                                                   Brubeck, Unknown, and Morello at dinner