Dave Brubeck's recording career began in the early forties. He formed an octet in 1946, which alto saxophonist Paul Desmond would join for the first time in 1950. The first regular lineup of the Dave Brubeck Quartet with Paul Desmond included Joe Dodge on drums and, alternately, brothers Bob and Norman Bates on bass. The lineup with Dodge and Bob Bates is the one heard here. "Jazz: Red, Hot and Cool" was recorded live at New York's Basin Street Club on two separate occasions. The first set took place between the studio sessions that produced the album "Time" (celebrating Brubeck's appearance on the cover of Time magazine) and the second in July of the following year.