Real Ambassadors

Dave Brubeck

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Real Ambassadors Review

by Scott Yanow

In 1961, Dave Brubeck put together a remarkable musical show. Using the talents of Louis Armstrong and his All-Stars, Carmen McRae, the innovative bop vocal group Lambert, Hendricks And Ross, and his own rhythm section, Brubeck and his wife, lyricist Iola, wrote a largely upbeat play full of anti-racism songs and tunes that celebrated human understanding. Although it had only one live performance (at the 1962 Monterey Jazz Festival), The Real Ambassadors was recorded for posterity and now, with its reissue on CD, the original 15 selections have been augmented by five more. It is important to listen to this music without prior expectations because Paul Desmond is nowhere to be found, Louis Armstrong does not play that much trumpet here, and Lambert, Hendricks And Ross essentially function as background singers. However Satch and Carmen McRae make for a very potent team, and there are many touching and surprising moments.

Track Listing

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1
Everybody's Comin'
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 01:45 SpotifyAmazon
2
Cultural Exchange
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 04:38 SpotifyAmazon
3
Good Reviews
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 02:05 SpotifyAmazon
4
Remember Who You Are
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 02:29 SpotifyAmazon
5
My One Bad Habit
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 02:37 SpotifyAmazon
6
Lonesome
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 02:24 SpotifyAmazon
7
Summer Song
Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 03:14 SpotifyAmazon
8
King for a Day
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 03:40 SpotifyAmazon
9
Blow Satchmo
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 00:44 SpotifyAmazon
10
The Real Ambassadors
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 03:08 SpotifyAmazon
11
Nomad
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 02:51 SpotifyAmazon
12
In the Lurch
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 02:28 SpotifyAmazon
13
One Moment Worth Years
Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 04:17 SpotifyAmazon
14
You Swing Baby (The Duke)
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 02:31 SpotifyAmazon
15
Summer Song
Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 02:32 SpotifyAmazon
16
They Say I Look Like God
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 05:26 SpotifyAmazon
17
I Didn't Know Until You Told Me
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 02:58 SpotifyAmazon
18
Since Love Had Its Way
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 02:31 SpotifyAmazon
19
Easy as You Go
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 02:32 SpotifyAmazon
20
Swing Bells/Blow Satchmo/Finale
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
Dave Brubeck 06:05 SpotifyAmazon
blue highlight denotes track pick
Real Ambassadors

Dave Brubeck Discography Browser