RIP Dave Brubeck, 1920-2012

Today we lost one of the last of the great jazz musicians from when jazz really mattered. Dave Brubeck was not only one of the great jazz pianists of his (or any) generation, but he helped to define and pioneer the West Coast/cool style and boldly experimented throughout his career. Additionally, he took a strong stand on civil rights. Back in the ‘50s and even into the ‘60s, it was still frowned upon in certain parts of the country to have an integrated band. Brubeck stood up for his black bassist, Eugene Wright, time and again, canceling shows when Wright’s presence was objected to and even backing out of a television appearance when it became clear that the show intended to keep Wright off camera. Brubeck was willing to take some career hits to protect his band and to stand up for what he thought was right.

Brubeck will primarily, and rightly, be most remembered for his groundbreaking work with his famous Quartet in the 50’s and 60’s. Their daring experiments in rhythm and time signatures will endure. What is most impressive is that Brubeck did what very few jazz artists have been able to do (I’m talking being in the company of Duke Ellington and Miles Davis): make bold, experimental music that also has enough mass appeal to crossover and sell tons of records.

In my book, 1959’s Time Out is in the Top 10 of jazz albums. It contains such standards as “Blue Rondo a la Turk,” “Strange Meadow Lark” and, of course, “Take Five.” Much like Miles Davis with Kind of Blue, Brubeck made an album that not only went platinum, but also took bold risks, mostly in time signature. “Blue Rondo a la Turk,” for example, is in 9/8, while Brubeck and saxophonist Paul Desmond’s solos are played in 4/4. The jazz standard “Take Five” (written by Desmond) is in 5/4 time. Speaking of Paul Desmond, and I think that Brubeck himself would admit this, Desmond was just as crucial to the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s success as Brubeck himself.

Dave Brubeck has been an active jazz musician and innovator for sixty years. He was a brilliant pianist, bold experimenter, genial bandleader, a patriot (he served in Patton’s Army during World War II, where he formed one of the first integrated bands in the U.S. military), gentleman and, as the title of one of his most famous songs proclaims, he was a “Real Ambassador” for jazz music around the world. RIP Dave Brubeck.


ABOVE: Here's Brubeck's Quartet performing their most famous tune, "Take Five"


ABOVE: I personally like "Blue Rondo a la Turk" even more than "Take Five"