The Dave Brubeck Quartet's 1957 album, Dave Digs Disney, is considered to be their second most important album after Time Out and includes Disney classics such as 'Give A Little Whistle', 'Heigh-Ho', 'When You Wish Upon A Star' and 'Some Day My Prince Will Come', among others. All analog cut from the Original Mono Master Tapes at Sterling Sound!

• Limited Edition
• 180 Gram Vinyl LP
• Cut by Ryan K. Smith
• Cut from Original  Mono Master Tapes
• Mastered at Sterling Sound
• Plated & Pressed at RTI, USA
• Stoughton Printing Tip-on Cover

"Inspired by a trip with his family to Disneyland, Dave Brubeck recorded eight songs taken from four Disney movies (Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, Snow White, and Cinderella), including such melodies as "Give a Little Whistle," "Heigh Ho," "When You Wish Upon a Star," and "Someday My Prince Will Come." The funny part is that while all of these songs were already in the Brubeck Quartet's repertoire, the results are still pleasing." - All Music , Scott Yanow

"And if anyone can transform Disney schmaltz into catchy, straight-ahead jazz music, it’s him. Crafted under Brubeck’s care, the songs on this album all come off as original and fresh, never hackneyed or cliché. Far from a “novelty” album, Dave Digs Disney is a true work of art and a great addition any record collection.

In truth, the album is a historic one for Dave, marking the first time in history that a jazz musician dedicated an entire album to songs from Disney movies. It is also one of Brubeck’s most popular albums, second only to 1959’s Time Out (another Columbia release) in album sales. Dave Digs Disney features Brubeck’s longstanding quartet, featuring Paul Desmond on alto-sax, Norman Bates on bass, and Joe Morello on drums.

The group’s water-tight playing and ESP-like communication is evident on every track, creating for the listener an eclectic blend of styles, sounds, and technique.

I can’t advise you strongly enough to listen to his album. If you love Disney tunes (okay, even if you like Disney tunes) and you love jazz, then you’ll appreciate the ingenuity and cleverness with which Brubeck handles these timeless melodies. With unparalleled subtlety and tact, Brubeck has done something truly special: brought “cool” into the House of Mouse." - Brian Zimmerman, thinking in jazz

"According to Sony, Dave Digs Disney is the second most important album in Dave's catalogue after Time Out. The album was recorded over three different dates between June and August 1957—in New York, Los Angeles and again in New York. The original LP was issued only in mono, though stereo tapes were recorded at the time. Typically, mono versions were followed by a stereo release six months later. But back in 1957, at the dawn of the stereo era, there wasn't enough of a market. People simply didn't have the gear in large enough numbers, and Columbia decided to hold off.

So why did Dave bother recording an album of Disney songs anyway? According to George's original liner notes, Dave had called him from Disneyland in California after taking his five children on the rides. Excited by the experience, Dave thought an album of Disney movie songs would be a great idea.

The truth is Dave and alto saxophonist Paul Desmond had been playing a batch of Disney songs since the very early 1950s. Dave loved their lyrical, playful quality, probably from his first-hand experience of taking his kids to the movies before Disneyland opened. After all, The Duke was written in 1954 after dropping off one of his sons at school.

Today, a jazz version of a Disney song is hardly a surprise. But back in the '50s, no one in jazz took Disney movies or their soundtracks seriously. Disney represented Squaresville, a largely white Utopian world in which bad moods, misfortune and unconventional lifestyles simply didn't exist. Even the term "Mickey Mouse" was musicians' code for rinky-dink, not the real deal, and lightweight.

The Dave Brubeck Quartet was the first modern jazz group to treat Disney songs seriously. This, of course, excludes the swing-era big bands that recorded quirky, "Mickey Mouse" adaptations. For instance, Dave's group first recorded Alice in Wonderland and Give a Little Whistle in 1952 for Fantasy. In each case, the rendition was a robust, adventurous interpretation rather than a sticky embrace. Bill Evans and Miles Davis followed, and soon even John Coltrane was getting into the act with My Favorite Things and Chim Chim Cher-ee." - Marc Myers, JazzWax

Musicians:

Alto Saxophone – Paul Desmond
Bass – Norman Bates
Drums – Joe Morello
Piano – Dave Brubeck

Track Listing:

Side A:
01. Alice In Wonderland
02. Give A Little Whistle
03. Heigh-Ho

Side B:
04. When You Wish Upon A Star
05. Some Day My Prince Will Come
06. One Song

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫