Jazz Impressions of the USA was Brubeck’s second studio session for Columbia, recorded November 1956 (albeit ‘Home at Last’, the final track, came from February 1957). This was not quite ‘the classic’ Brubeck quartet yet, Norman Bates’ wife was yet to put her foot down and make him choose between matrimonial bliss or touring with Brubeck. This is the first of a series of three highly regarded Jazz Impressions albums – Jazz Impressions of Eurasia, …of Japan and …of New York that give rein to Brubeck’s seldom commented ability as composer – for example, ‘Summer Song’ from the USA album was later sang to considerable effect by Carmen McRae on Brubeck’s The Real Ambassadors album. Included are two bonus tracks, rarities indeed, recorded in Stratford, Ontario the year after Oscar Peterson’s famous album At The Shakespearean Festival (Verve) from 1956. Not mentioned in any discography, these are the only known performances of this concert. The Juan-Les-Pins concert dates from 23 July, 1967, so is one of the last recorded concerts before the quartet disbanded in December of that year, and on the evidence presented here Brubeck may have called time on this remarkable quartet a little prematurely as they continued to reach and extend themselves on pieces such as ‘La Paloma Azul’ or ‘One Moment Worth Years’ – the latter Brubeck’s homage to Fats Waller. Three bonus tracks are included which come from the quartet’s appearance at the Rock Rimmon Jazz Festival, New Hampshire on 12 July, 1963 – “If you’ve ever heard of anything being done impromptu,” says Brubeck, “This will be it!” as the quartet are joined on stage first by Bobby Hackett, then Benny Goodman. What is impressive is how the whole rhythmic disposition of the quartet changes in deference to these two great improvisers, who were at their peak when the Brubeck quartet were still in short pants. Hackett is his customarily elegant self on ‘Poor Butterfly’, Goodman a bit ill at ease on ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’, while on the jam ‘On the Sunny Side of the Street’, Paul Desmond steals the show on the only known recording of him playing the tune.