Dave Brubeck

Biography

David Warren Brubeck was born on December 6, 1920, in Concord, California, into a musical family; his mother, a classical pianist, began teaching him piano at age four. Raised on a cattle ranch in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Brubeck's early life was shaped by both rural labor and music. He initially studied veterinary medicine at the College of the Pacific but switched to music after being drawn to jazz through playing in local nightclubs. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he led one of the first racially integrated bands, Brubeck studied composition at Mills College under Darius Milhaud, who encouraged him to blend jazz and classical elements. This led to the formation of the Dave Brubeck Octet and, later, the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet with saxophonist Paul Desmond.

Brubeck became a leading figure in cool jazz, known for his innovative use of odd time signatures, polyrhythms, and polytonality. His 1959 album 'Time Out' was a landmark, featuring hits like 'Take Five' and 'Blue Rondo à la Turk,' and became the first jazz album to sell over a million copies. Brubeck's career spanned over six decades, during which he was celebrated for his genre-blending compositions and performances, earning accolades such as induction into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame and a Living Legacy Jazz Award. He remained active as a composer and performer until his death on December 5, 2012, leaving a legacy as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century.

Fun Facts

• Dave Brubeck was the first jazz artist to appear on the cover of Time magazine in 1954.
• He led one of the first racially integrated bands in the U.S. Army during World War II.
• Brubeck's 'Take Five,' written by Paul Desmond, is the highest-selling jazz single of all time.
• Despite his fame, Brubeck initially studied veterinary medicine and only switched to music after being drawn to jazz in college.

Associated Acts

• The Dave Brubeck Quartet - eponymous, original, piano (1951–1967)
• The New Brubeck Quartet - eponymous, original
• The Dave Brubeck Trio - eponymous, original
• The Dave Brubeck Octet - eponymous, original

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Darius Milhaud - Composition teacher at Mills College who encouraged Brubeck to blend jazz and classical music (Dave Brubeck Octet, early compositions) [1946–1947]
• Arnold Schoenberg - Studied composition with Schoenberg, influencing Brubeck's experimental approach (Polyrhythmic and polytonal works) [Post-World War II]

Key Collaborators

• Paul Desmond - Longtime saxophonist and collaborator in the Dave Brubeck Quartet (Time Out, Take Five, Blue Rondo à la Turk) [1951–1967]
• Eugene Wright - Bassist in the classic Dave Brubeck Quartet lineup (Time Out, other quartet albums) [1958–1967]
• Joe Morello - Drummer in the classic Dave Brubeck Quartet lineup (Time Out, Unsquare Dance) [1956–1967]
• Cal Tjader - Fellow Octet member and collaborator in early trio recordings (Dave Brubeck Trio recordings) [1947–1949]

Artists Influenced

• Chick Corea - Cited Brubeck's rhythmic experimentation as an influence on his own work (Various jazz fusion projects) [1960s–present]
• Keith Jarrett - Admired Brubeck's genre-blending and improvisational style (Solo piano and jazz trio recordings) [1970s–present]
• Herbie Hancock - Influenced by Brubeck's use of odd time signatures and harmonic innovation (Maiden Voyage, Head Hunters) [1960s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Besame Mucho
2. Take Five
3. Take Five
4. Audrey (Love Songs)
5. I'm in a Dancing Mood
6. Unsquare Dance
7. Take Five (I Like Jazz: The Essence Of Dave Brubeck)
8. Besame Mucho (Love Songs)
9. Take Five - Studio Rio Version (Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection)
10. Summer Song (1975: The Duets)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #2008-universal-fire-victim, #american, #classical