Dave Brubeck

Pianist Dave Brubeck is a living legend. For over 60 years this jazz giant has thrilled legions of devoted fans while improvising in unique rhythms and time signatures. Beginning as a composition student with the famous French composer Darius Milhaud, he led strongly European-influenced jazz groups in the late ’40s, before his quartet featuring Paul Desmond established him as an artist of international stature. After Desmond left in 1967, Gerry Mulligan became a member of the group and Dave’s sons joined later. In the ’80s, reedman Jerry Bergonzi and clarinetist Bill Smith toured with Brubeck. A prolific writer, and forever associated with his hit record of Desmond’s composition Take Five, Dave himself has written tunes like Blue Rondo à la Turk and In Your Own Sweet Way, which have become classics in the jazz canon. While always expanding jazz horizons, Brubeck has performed and recorded with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic as well as with legendary figures Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Rushing, and Carmen McRae. He has also worked with current greats like Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove, and Christian McBride. Over a... more...