Jazz Impressions of Eurasia is a studio album by pianist Dave Brubeck and his quartet recorded after, and inspired by, their 1958 world tour sponsored by the American state department during which they played 80 concerts in 14 countries, including Turkey, Iran, Iraq, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, over three months.
[2][3] Brubeck composed the six pieces for the album—along with "Blue Rondo à la Turk," which appeared on the group's signature album of the following year, Time Out—while on tour across Eurasia.
It opens with Joe Morello's tom-tom riff and includes a Paul Desmond solo described as "a focused beam of moonlight glinting off the caravan's trappings."
This piece was re-recorded three years later in an extended version with symphony orchestra and eventually released on the album Brandenburg Gate: Revisited (1964).
"[7] Ken Dryden reviewed the album for Allmusic and wrote that "'Nomad' and 'Brandenburg Gate' are the best-known originals but all of the other selections are equally enjoyable, featuring fine solos from Brubeck and altoist Paul Desmond.