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Dave Brubeck

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Dave Brubeck

David Warren "Dave" Brubeck (born December 6, 1920)[1] is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills. His music is known for employing unusual time signatures, and superimposing contrasting rhythms, meters, and tonalities.

His long-time musical partner, alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, wrote the Dave Brubeck Quartet's best remembered piece, "Take Five",[1] which is in 5/4 time and has endured as a jazz classic. Brubeck experimented with time signatures throughout his career, recording "Pick Up Sticks" in 6/4, "Unsquare Dance" in 7/4, and "Blue Rondo à la Turk" in 9/8. He is also a respected composer of orchestral and sacred music, and wrote soundtracks for television such as Mr. Broadway and the animated miniseries This Is America, Charlie Brown.

Early life and career

Brubeck was born in Concord, California.[1] His father, Howard Brubeck, was a cattle rancher, and his mother, Elizabeth (née Ivey), who had studied piano in England and intended to become a concert pianist, taught piano for extra money.[2] Brubeck originally did not intend to become a musician (his two older brothers, Henry and Howard, were already on that track), but took lessons from his mother. He could not read sheet music during these early lessons, attributing this difficulty to poor eyesight, but "faked" his way through, well enough that this deficiency went mostly unnoticed.[3]

Intending to work with his father on their ranch, Brubeck entered the College of the Pacific (now the University of the Pacific) studying veterinary science, but transferred on the urging of the head of zoology, Dr Arnold, who told him "Brubeck, your mind's not here. It's across the lawn in the conservatory. Please go there. Stop wasting my time and yours."[4] Later, Brubeck was nearly expelled when one of his professors discovered that he could not read music. Several of his professors came forward, arguing that his ability with counterpoint and harmony more than compensated. The college was still afraid that it would cause a scandal, and only agreed to let Brubeck graduate once he promised never to teach piano.[5]

After graduating in 1942, Brubeck was drafted into the army and served overseas in George Patton's Third Army. He was spared from service in the Battle of the Bulge when he volunteered to play piano at a Red Cross show; he was such a hit he was ordered to form a band. Thus he created one of the armed forces' first integrated bands, "The Wolfpack".[5] While serving, Brubeck met Paul Desmond in early 1944.[6] He returned to college after serving nearly four years in the army, this time attending Mills College and studying under Darius Milhaud, who encouraged him to study fugue and orchestration, but not classical piano.

After completing his studies under Milhaud, Brubeck helped to establish Berkeley, California's Fantasy Records. He worked with an octet (the recording bears his name only because Brubeck was the best-known member at the time), and a trio including Cal Tjader and Ron Crotty. Highly experimental, the group made few recordings and got even fewer paying jobs. The trio was often joined by Paul Desmond on the bandstand, at Desmond's prodding.[7]

Quartet era

File:Time magazine cover, Dave Brubeck, November 1954.jpg
Dave Brubeck, featured on Time magazine cover, "The Man on Cloud No. 7". November 8, 1954[8].

Following a near-fatal swimming accident which incapacitated him for several months, Brubeck organized The Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951, with Desmond on saxophone. They took up a long residency at San Francisco's Black Hawk nightclub and gained great popularity touring college campuses, recording a series of albums with such titles as Jazz at Oberlin (1953), Jazz at College of the Pacific (1953), and Brubeck's debut on Columbia Records, Jazz Goes to College (1954). In that same year, he was featured on the cover of Time magazine, the second jazz musician to be so honored (the first was Louis Armstrong on February 21, 1949.[9])

Dave Brubeck in 1954.

Early bassists for the group included Ron Crotty, Bob Bates, and Bob's brother Norman Bates; Lloyd Davis and Joe Dodge held the drum chair. In 1956, Brubeck hired Joe Morello, who had been working with Marian McPartland; Morello's presence made possible the rhythmic experiments that were to come. In 1958 Eugene Wright joined for the group's U.S. State Department tour of Europe and Asia; Wright would become a permanent member in 1959, making the "classic" Quartet's personnel complete.

Wright is African-American; in the late 1950s and early 1960s Brubeck canceled several concerts because the club owners or hall managers resisted the idea of an integrated band on their stages. He also canceled a television appearance when he found out that the producers intended to keep Wright off-camera.

In 1959, the Dave Brubeck Quartet recorded Time Out, an album their label was enthusiastic about but nonetheless hesitant to release. Featuring the album art of Neil Fujita, the album contained all original compositions, almost none of which were in common time. Nonetheless, on the strength of these unusual time signatures (the album included "Take Five", "Blue Rondo à la Turk", and "Three To Get Ready"), it quickly went platinum.

At this time, Dave Brubeck and his wife Iola were developing a jazz musical, The Real Ambassadors, based in part on experiences of themselves and colleagues during foreign tours on behalf of the U.S. State Department. The soundtrack album, which featured Louis Armstrong, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, and Carmen McRae was recorded in 1961; the musical itself was performed at the 1962 Monterey Jazz Festival.

Time Out was followed by several albums with a similar approach, including Time Further Out: Miro Reflections (1961), Countdown: Time in Outer Space (dedicated to John Glenn) (1962), Time Changes (1963), and Time In (1965). These albums were also known for using contemporary paintings as cover art, featuring the work of Joan Miró on Time Further Out, Franz Kline on Time in Outer Space, and Sam Francis on Time Changes, though the fifth album, Time In, did not feature an artist's work.

A high point for the group was their 1963 live album At Carnegie Hall, described by critic Richard Palmer as "arguably Dave Brubeck's greatest concert".

Dave Brubeck Quartet 1967. From left to right: Joe Morello, Eugene Wright, Brubeck and Paul Desmond.

Apart from the Jazz Goes to College and the 'Time' series, Brubeck recorded several records featuring his compositions based on the group's travels, and the local music they encountered. Jazz Impressions of the USA (1956, Morello's debut with the group), Jazz Impressions of Eurasia (1958), Jazz Impressions of Japan (1964), and Jazz Impressions of New York (1964) are less well-known albums, but all are brilliant examples of the quartet's studio work, and they produced Brubeck standards such as "Summer Song," "Brandenburg Gate," "Koto Song," and "Theme From Mr. Broadway." (Brubeck wrote, and the Quartet performed, the theme song for the Craig Stevens CBS drama series; the music from the series became material for the "New York" album.)

In 1961 Dave Brubeck appeared in a few scenes of the British Jazz/Beat film All Night Long, which starred Patrick McGoohan and Richard Attenborough. Brubeck merely plays himself, and his piano playing includes closeups of his fingerings. Brubeck performs "It's a Raggy Waltz" from the Time Further Out album and duets briefly with bassist Charles Mingus in "Non-Sectarian Blues".

In the early 1960s Dave Brubeck was the program director of WJZZ-FM radio (now WEZN). He achieved his vision of an all jazz format radio station along with his friend and neighbor John E. Metts, one of the first African Americans in senior radio management.

The final studio album for Columbia by the Desmond/Wright/Morello quartet was Anything Goes (1966) featuring Cole Porter songs. A few concert recordings followed, and The Last Time We Saw Paris (1967) was the "Classic" Quartet's swansong.

Later career

Dave Brubeck (1990)

Brubeck's disbanding of the Quartet at the end of 1967 allowed him more time to compose the longer, extended orchestral and choral works that were occupying his attention. Another reason for the break up was Brubeck's desire to spend more time with his young family, when America was affected by political turmoil. February 1968 saw the premiere of The Light in the Wilderness for baritone solo, choir, organ, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Erich Kunzel, and Brubeck improvising on certain themes within. The piece is an oratorio on Jesus's teachings. The next year, Brubeck produced The Gates of Justice, a cantata mixing Biblical scripture with the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr..

Further works followed, including the 1971 cantata Truth Is Fallen, dedicated to the memory of the Kent State shootings and Jackson State killings of May 1970. The work was premiered in Midland, Michigan on May 1, 1971 and released on LP in 1972.[10]

Brubeck's jazz playing did not cease. He was quickly prevailed upon by Newport Jazz Festival producer George Wein to tour with Gerry Mulligan. A Brubeck "Trio" was soon formed: Jack Six on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums. From 1968 until 1973, The Dave Brubeck Trio featuring Gerry Mulligan performed extensively, releasing several concert albums (including one with guest Desmond) and one studio album.

In 1973 Brubeck formed another group with three of his sons, Darius on keyboards, Dan on drums, and Chris on electric bass or bass trombone. This group often included Perry Robinson, clarinet, and Jerry Bergonzi, saxophone. Brubeck would record and tour with this "Two Generations of Brubeck" group until 1978.

Brubeck and Desmond recorded an album of duets in 1975, then the Classic Quartet reassembled for a 25th anniversary reunion in 1976. Desmond died in 1977.

Brubeck's Quartet has remained vital, a primary creative outlet for the pianist. Bergonzi became a member and remained with the band until 1982. This version featured Chris Brubeck, and Randy Jones on drums. Jones joined in 1979 and is still with the band after almost 30 years. Replacing Bergonzi was Brubeck's old friend Bill Smith, who knew Brubeck at Mills College and was a member of Brubeck's Octet in the late 1940s; he remained in the group through the '80s and recorded with it off and on until 1995. The best recording of this Smith/Brubeck/Jones Quartet is probably their remarkable Moscow Night concert of 1987, released on Concord Records.

The Quartet currently includes alto saxophonist and flautist Bobby Militello, bassist Michael Moore (who replaced Alec Dankworth), and Randy Jones.

In 1994, Brubeck was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.

Brubeck continues to write new works, including orchestral and ballet scores. He has worked extensively with the London Symphony Orchestra and tours about 80 cities each year.[citation needed]

At the 49th Monterey Jazz Festival in September 2006, Brubeck debuted his commissioned work, Cannery Row Suite, a jazz opera drawn from the characters in John Steinbeck's American classic writing about Monterey's roots as a sardine fishing and packing town. Iola (née Whitlock), Brubeck's wife since 1942, is his personal secretary, manager and lyricist, and co-authored the Cannery Row Suite with Dave. His performance of this as well as a number of jazz standards with his current quartet was the buzz of the Festival (an event Brubeck helped launch in 1958).

On April 3, 2009, Brubeck was scheduled to play the album Time Out in its entirety to commemorate its 50th anniversary at the annual Brubeck Festival, but was not able to due to being hospitalized with a viral infection. His son Darius filled in on piano with the rest of his quartet.[11]

Personal life

Brubeck in 2005

Four of Brubeck's six children are professional musicians. Darius, the eldest, is an accomplished pianist, producer, educator and performer. Dan is a renowned percussionist, Chris is a multi-instrumentalist and composer. Matthew, the youngest, is a versatile cellist with an impressive list of composing and performance credits. Brubeck's children often join with him in concerts and in the recording studio.

Brubeck believed the casualties of World War II contradicted the Ten Commandments, and the war evoked a spiritual awakening. He became a Catholic in 1980, shortly after completing the Mass To Hope which had been commissioned by Ed Murray, editor of the national Catholic weekly Our Sunday Visitor. Although he had spiritual interests before then he said, "I didn't convert to Catholicism, because I wasn't anything to convert from. I just joined the Catholic Church."[12] In 1996, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2006, Brubeck was awarded the University of Notre Dame's Laetare Medal, the oldest and most prestigious[13] honor given to American Catholics, during the University's commencement. He performed "Travellin' Blues" for the graduating class of 2006.

Brubeck founded the Brubeck Institute with his wife at their alma mater, the University of the Pacific in 2000. What began as a special archive, consisting of the personal document collection of the Brubecks has since expanded to provide fellowships and educational opportunities in jazz for students, also leading to having one of the main streets the school resides on named in his honor, Dave Brubeck Way.[14]

On April 8, 2008 US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice presented Brubeck with a "Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy" for offering an American "vision of hope, opportunity and freedom" through his music.[15] "As a little girl I grew up on the sounds of Dave Brubeck because my dad was your biggest fan," said Rice.[16] The State Department said in a statement that "as a pianist, composer, cultural emissary and educator, Dave Brubeck's life's work exemplifies the best of America's cultural diplomacy."[15] At the ceremony Brubeck played a brief recital for the audience at the State Department.[15] "I want to thank all of you because this honor is something that I never expected. Now I am going to play a cold piano with cold hands," Brubeck stated.[15]

Dave Brubeck (third from left), amongst Kennedy Center honorees 2009, and the President at the Blue Room, White House, December 6, 2009.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver announced on May 28, 2008 that Brubeck will be inducted into the California Hall of Fame, located at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts. The induction ceremony occurred December 10, and he was inducted alongside eleven other legendary Californians.[17]

In September 2009, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Brubeck as an Kennedy Center Honoree for exhibiting excellence in performance arts. The Kennedy Center Honors Gala took place on Sunday, December 6 and broadcasted nationwide on CBS on December 29 at 9:00 p.m. EST.

On September 20, 2009, at Monterey Jazz Festival, Brubeck was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree (D.Mus. honoris causa) from Berklee College of Music.

Humanitarian causes

Brubeck has become a supporter of the Jazz Foundation of America in their mission to save the homes and the lives of elderly jazz and blues musicians, including musicians that survived Hurricane Katrina.[18] Brubeck supported the Jazz Foundation by performing in their annual benefit concert "A Great Night in Harlem" in 2006.[19]

Discography

  • Countdown Time in Outer Space (1962) Columbia Records
  • Brubeck Trio with Cal Tjader, Volume 1 (1949)
  • Brubeck Trio with Cal Tjader, Volume 2 (1949)
  • The Essential Dave Brubeck (Set Recording) (1950)
  • Brubeck/Desmond (1951)
  • Stardust (1951)
  • Dave Brubeck Quartet (1951)
  • Jazz at the Blackhawk (1952)
  • Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond (1952)
  • Jazz at Storyville (live) (1952)
  • featuring Paul Desmond In Concert (live) (1953)
  • Dave Brubeck & Paul Desmond at Wilshire Ebell (1953)
  • Two Knights at the Black Hawk (1953)
  • Jazz at the College of the Pacific (1953) Fantasy Records
  • Jazz at Oberlin (1953) Fantasy Records
  • Jazz Goes to College (1954) Columbia Records
  • Dave Brubeck at Storyville 1954 (live) (1954)
  • Brubeck Time (1954)
  • Jazz: Red Hot And Cool (1955)
  • Jazz Impressions of the U.S.A. (1956)
  • Plays and Plays and ... (1957)
  • Reunion (1957)
  • Jazz goes to Junior College (live) (1957)
  • Dave Digs Disney (1957)
  • Dave Brubeck Plays Solo (1958)
  • Gone with the Wind (1959)
  • Time Out (1959) Columbia Records/Legacy (RIAA: Platinum)
  • Tonight Only (1960)
  • Southern Scene (1960)
  • Take Five Live (1961)
  • Time Further Out (1961) Columbia Records/Legacy
  • Angel Eyes (1962)
  • The Real Ambassadors (1962)
  • At Carnegie Hall (1963)
  • Brandenburg Gate: Revisited (1963) Columbia Records
  • Dave Brubeck in Berlin (1964)
  • Jazz Impressions of Japan (1964) Columbia Records/Legacy
  • Time In (1966) Columbia Records
  • Jackpot (1966, live in Las Vegas) Columbia Records
  • Adventures in Time (1968) Columbia Records
  • DBQ 25th Anniversary Reunion (1976) A&M Records
  • Tritonis (1980)
  • Paper Moon (1982)
  • Vocal Encounters (2001) Sony Records
  • Dave Brubeck in "Yo-Yo Ma & Friends" Songs: Joy to the World, Concordia. (2008)Sony BMG

Awards

References

  1. ^ a b c Reception honors Concord native son, jazz great Dave Brubeck, ci.concord.ca.us, retrieved on 2007-01-15
  2. ^ Storb, Ilse (2000). Jazz meets the world - the world meets Jazz, Volume 4 of Populäre Musik und Jazz in der Forschung. LIT Verlag Berlin-Hamburg-Münster. p. 129. ISBN3825837483. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |coauthors= and |month= (help)
  3. ^ An Hour With Dave Brubeck, WNYC
  4. ^ It's About Time: The Dave Brubeck Story, by Fred M. Hall.
  5. ^ a b Rediscovering Dave Brubeck, PBS
  6. ^ Liner notes to the album "25th Anniversary Reunion", by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
  7. ^ Down Beat artists profile
  8. ^ Music: The Man on Cloud No. 7 (cover story) TIME, November 08, 1954.
  9. ^ Time magazine cover: Louis Armstrong - February 21, 1949
  10. ^ Composers Datebook: 5/01/02-5/04/02
  11. ^ "Ailing Jazz Icon Brubeck Cancels Festival Appearance", contactmusic.com, March 4, 2009.
  12. ^ Rediscovering Dave Brubeck, PBS
  13. ^ "Jazz legend Dave Brubeck to receive Laetare Medal". University of Notre Dame Office of News & Information. 2006-03-25. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
  14. ^ Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony - University of the Pacific
  15. ^ a b c d e "Jazz great Brubeck wins US public diplomacy award", AFP, April 8, 2008.
  16. ^ "Whatever Happened to Cultural Diplomacy?", All About Jazz, April 19, 2008.
  17. ^ "Artists Dominate the 2008 "California Hall of Fame"". California Arts Council. 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
  18. ^ allaboutjazz.com. 2009-02-11. URL: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=18163. (Archived by allaboutjazz.com at http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=18163)
  19. ^ blogspot.com. 2009-02-11. URL: http://jbspins.blogspot.com/2008/05/jfa-delivers-another-great-night.html. (Archived by blogspot.com at http://jbspins.blogspot.com/2008/05/jfa-delivers-another-great-night.html)
  20. ^ http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/index.cfm

External links

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