Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Today on the London Contemporary School of Piano channel, Tom Donald performs “Koto Song”, a rare and beautifully atmospheric piece associated with Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond, recorded live with a jazz quartet at The Bull’s Head in London.
Originally featured on Jazz Impressions of Japan, the 1964 Dave Brubeck Quartet album inspired by the group’s tour of Japan, the piece draws on Brubeck’s fascination with the sound and character of the koto, the traditional Japanese string instrument. The album featured the classic quartet of Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello, and Koto Song went on to become one of the best known pieces to emerge from that project.
In this performance, we revisit that lesser known corner of the Brubeck and Desmond world through a live jazz club setting, bringing together lyricism, space, and the subtle East meets West atmosphere that made Jazz Impressions of Japan such a distinctive album in the Brubeck catalogue. If you love Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, cool jazz, jazz piano, live jazz in London, and rare jazz repertoire, this performance is for you.
Featuring:
Tom Donald, piano
Mark Buckingham, saxophone, (https://buckinghamjazz.xyz/),
Theo Buckingham, drums, (drumlondon.com/)
Wun Chan, double bass.
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🌟 About Tom Donald
Tom Donald is a pianist and composer known for his innovative improvisations that a great variety of music styles and genres. His unique style transforms familiar tunes into something entirely new and deeply expressive.
🎶 Enjoy more:
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/tomdonaldofficial?igsh=dGU5dmNzcDU1djZm
SPOTIFY: open.spotify.com/artist/3IQaJTfEyvDouw8o7LMqoN?si=ho5iKSiURzWXR-Zd-isxyg
BANDCAMP: tomdonaldofficial.bandcamp.com
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youtu.be/GPACuPb6pHw
#tomdonald #kotosong #davebrubeck
Today on the London Contemporary School of Piano channel, Tom Donald performs “Koto Song”, a rare and beautifully atmospheric piece associated with Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond, recorded live with a jazz quartet at The Bull’s Head in London.
Originally featured on Jazz Impressions of Japan, the 1964 Dave Brubeck Quartet album inspired by the group’s tour of Japan, the piece draws on Brubeck’s fascination with the sound and character of the koto, the traditional Japanese string instrument. The album featured the classic quartet of Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello, and Koto Song went on to become one of the best known pieces to emerge from that project.
In this performance, we revisit that lesser known corner of the Brubeck and Desmond world through a live jazz club setting, bringing together lyricism, space, and the subtle East meets West atmosphere that made Jazz Impressions of Japan such a distinctive album in the Brubeck catalogue. If you love Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, cool jazz, jazz piano, live jazz in London, and rare jazz repertoire, this performance is for you.
Featuring:
Tom Donald, piano
Mark Buckingham, saxophone, (https://buckinghamjazz.xyz/),
Theo Buckingham, drums, (drumlondon.com/)
Wun Chan, double bass.
————————————————————————————————
🌟 About Tom Donald
Tom Donald is a pianist and composer known for his innovative improvisations that a great variety of music styles and genres. His unique style transforms familiar tunes into something entirely new and deeply expressive.
🎶 Enjoy more:
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/tomdonaldofficial?igsh=dGU5dmNzcDU1djZm
SPOTIFY: open.spotify.com/artist/3IQaJTfEyvDouw8o7LMqoN?si=ho5iKSiURzWXR-Zd-isxyg
BANDCAMP: tomdonaldofficial.bandcamp.com
————————————————————————————————
youtu.be/GPACuPb6pHw
#tomdonald #kotosong #davebrubeck
