The Train And The River – 1958
Jimmy Giuffre
A colorful version of Giuffre’s folk/jazz hit
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Jimmy Giuffre (1921-2008) had an unusually diverse career.
He played clarinet (emphasizing his lower register), tenor and baritone, wrote “Four Brothers,” and performed bebop and cool jazz on the West Coast before exploring free jazz and becoming an influential educator.
No matter what style or instrument he was playing, Giuffre had a quiet and thoughtful style, often leading the Jimmy Giuffre 3.
Next to “Four Brothers,” his most famous original was the folk/jazz tune “The Train And The River” which he not only recorded but played on the 1957 telecast The Sound Of Jazz and the 1958 color movie Jazz On A Summer’s Day.
This expressive performance is taken from the latter, featuring Giuffre on tenor and baritone with one of his most unusual groups, a trio with valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer and guitarist Jim Hall that did not include piano, bass or drums.
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald