Bob Brookmeyer: The '54 Quartets

In 1952, Bob Brookmeyer wasn't yet quite the aggressive valve trombonist and dynamic arranger who would emerge in the mid-1950s. Prior to 1952, Brookmeyer played piano in Tex Beneke's band, played some slide trombone, and by his own admission had very little contact with jazz musicians. Brookmeyer at the time had plans to spend his life as a composer an…