Dave Brubeck RIP: Dave and his Quartet performing St. Louis Blues

A legend dies — but his legacy lives as long as humanity does

Music • 12/05/12 3:04:54 pm • Views: 21,630

Jazz piano legend Dave Brubeck died on Wednesday at the age of 91, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Exclusive Milken Archive footage of the Dave Brubeck Quartet performing St. Louis Blues by W. C. Handy. Recorded live at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Dave Brubeck, piano; Bobby Militello, saxophone; Michael Moore, bass; Randy Jones, drums. For more Dave Brubeck videos, please visit [Link: www.milkenarchive.org….]

Brubeck’s iconic signature piece, “Take Five:”

Video

He’s influenced so many musicians that his impact on our culture will last as long as humanity does, even if everything he ever personally recorded were to magically disappear tomorrow.

Amazon’s Dave Brubeck Library

45 comments

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Usually refered to as anyways Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:09:56pm

Thank you Dave

RIP

Charles Johnson Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:11:05pm

Sad day for me - I met Dave and was friends with his sons Dan and Darius. Used to jam with those guys when they visited Hawaii, way back.

And I played Take Five with Al Jarreau more times than I can count. So long, Dave, you were a true original.

HappyWarrior Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:13:02pm

RIP. I've only recently gotten into Jazz but it's something I've come to really enjoy especially while reading.

Obdicut Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:13:25pm

Brubeck was a great musician and a great human being. In a culture where virtually all performing popular musicians owe a huge debt to black performers, Brubeck was one of the few to live up to a high code of ethics.

He would refuse to play a show if his black fellow performers weren't allowed to play too, or if he felt they were being treated poorly. He'd refuse to go on television if they wouldn't show black performers.

He was sad when he made the cover of Time, because Duke Ellington hadn't, and to Brubeck, it was obvious that Ellington was the greater musician.

Few men displayed such integrity during that time period. He really was exceptional.

Charles Johnson Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:13:56pm

Here I am doing Take Five in Baden Baden with Steve Gadd and Al Jarreau. Picture's kind of stretched out but the audio's good.

Youtube Video

Gus Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:19:06pm

re: #5 Charles Johnson

Here I am in Baden Baden with Steve Gadd and Al Jarreau. Picture's kind of stretched out but the audio's good.

[Embedded content]

Chick remembers Dave Brubeck: vsb.li/vltwlg
— Chick Corea (@ChickCorea) December 5, 2012

HappyWarrior Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:19:37pm

re: #4 Obdicut

Brubeck was a great musician and a great human being. In a culture where virtually all performing popular musicians owe a huge debt to black performers, Brubeck was one of the few to live up to a high code of ethics.

He would refuse to play a show if his black fellow performers weren't allowed to play too, or if he felt they were being treated poorly. He'd refuse to go on television if they wouldn't show black performers.

He was sad when he made the cover of Time, because Duke Ellington hadn't, and to Brubeck, it was obvious that Ellington was the greater musician.

Few men displayed such integrity during that time period. He really was exceptional.

I always think of people like that when people justify bigotry by saying people were products of their time. Because for every person like that, there is someone like Mr. Brubeck who didn't. There's a story about Honus Wagner, one of my favorite baseball players when a Negro League star, John Henry "Pop" Lloyd was compared with him. Wagner told the reporter that they should be comparing him to Lloyd because he saw Lloyd as his better.

HappyWarrior Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:20:33pm

This by the way is why I love LGF. I like politics and discussing it but man do I love music more. Music is the greatest thing.

Charles Johnson Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:21:14pm

I love the end of this NY Times obituary.

Dave Brubeck, Jazz Musician, Dies at 91

Mr. Brubeck once explained succinctly what jazz meant to him. "One of the reasons I believe in jazz," he said, "is that the oneness of man can come through the rhythm of your heart. It's the same anyplace in the world, that heartbeat. It's the first thing you hear when you're born -- or before you're born -- and it's the last thing you hear."

engineer cat Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:22:56pm

strange as it may seem, 'take five' has been recorded more than once in time signatures other than 5/4

Holidays are Family Fun Time Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:29:35pm

wow

Our Precious Bodily Fluids Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:32:51pm

re: #10 engineer cat

strange as it may seem, 'take five' has been recorded more than once in time signatures other than 5/4

That kind of thing would take some discipline.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:35:02pm

I mean, really, WOW!

I am referring to the Al Jarreau version.

Really, just WOW.

Decatur Deb Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:39:51pm

You can take 10 with Paul Desmond:

Youtube Video

Bubblehead II Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:45:24pm

Lurk Off

Afternoon/Evening Lizards.

O/T here. Charles, were you aware that there is no Show Users button in the page sections? Would be kind of nice to have one there.

Thanks.

Lurk On

William Barnett-Lewis Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:47:34pm

Time to go listen to my 1959 playlist I think. That was a hell of a year in Jazz - Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" (and working on "Sketches of Spain"), John Coltrane "Giant Steps", Ornette Coleman "The Shape of Jazz to Come", Charles Mingus "Mingus Ah Um", Bill Evans Trio "Portrait in Jazz" and not to mention The Dave Brubeck Quartet "Time Out".

Thank you, Mr. Brubeck.

A Man for all Seasons Wed, Dec 5, 2012 3:50:42pm

My deepest condolences to Dave and his family, friends and colleagues.
He truly was a living legend in his time and will be forever a legend of mankind's history.

Gus Wed, Dec 5, 2012 4:13:06pm

Published: December 5, 2012
Listening to Dave Brubeck

Tracks and performances, from YouTube, by the influential jazz pianist, who died Wednesday at 91.

Gus Wed, Dec 5, 2012 4:17:14pm

Bossa Nova USA - The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Youtube Video

engineer cat Wed, Dec 5, 2012 4:21:38pm

re: #16 William Barnett-Lewis

Time to go listen to my 1959 playlist I think. That was a hell of a year in Jazz - Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" (and working on "Sketches of Spain"), John Coltrane "Giant Steps", Ornette Coleman "The Shape of Jazz to Come", Charles Mingus "Mingus Ah Um", Bill Evans Trio "Portrait in Jazz" and not to mention The Dave Brubeck Quartet "Time Out".

Thank you, Mr. Brubeck.

it's good that american culture was so alive in some places in 1959

i was living in the burbs in that levittown year and the only music allowed in where i was was doo-wop, broadway musicals, and musak

engineer cat Wed, Dec 5, 2012 4:28:45pm

lgf comment speed will now slow to a crawl for the daily dinner break...

William Barnett-Lewis Wed, Dec 5, 2012 4:29:30pm

re: #20 engineer cat

it's good that american culture was so alive in some places in 1959

i was living in the burbs in that levittown year and the only music allowed in where i was was doo-wop, broadway musicals, and musak

It was before I was born and it took me a long time to learn about all of them. Fortunately my father liked jazz and passed it on. Much of it was popular stuff - Herb Alpert for example. But I can remember being shocked in many different ways the first time I put on my Dad's copy of Bitches Brew. I still prefer Birth of the Cool through Sketches of Spain for him but that was an amazing thing to run into at about the same time I discovered the Ramones :eek:

wrenchwench Wed, Dec 5, 2012 4:30:45pm

re: #21 engineer cat

lgf comment speed will now slow to a crawl for the daily dinner break...

...

Image: 128348012107656250.jpg

Gus Wed, Dec 5, 2012 4:30:48pm

Talking guns w/ @piersmorgan tonight. Important to preserve freedoms but doubt founding fathers intended assault weapons to be part of it.
— Abby Huntsman (@HuntsmanAbby) December 6, 2012

wrenchwench Wed, Dec 5, 2012 4:33:04pm

re: #21 engineer cat

lgf comment speed will now slow to a crawl for the daily dinner break...

...

Image: funny-pictures-lolcat-salad.jpg

Gus Wed, Dec 5, 2012 4:44:04pm

Youtube Video

Our Precious Bodily Fluids Wed, Dec 5, 2012 4:53:12pm

While we're paying homage to Brubeck, I'd like to point out that this is also the Holy Month of Zappadan.

December 4 marks the anniversary of Zappa's death in 1993, and the beginning of the Festival of Zappadan. Zappadan ends on Frank's birthday, which falls on the 21st of December.

Expect miracles.

Youtube Video

William Barnett-Lewis Wed, Dec 5, 2012 4:54:15pm

re: #24 Gus

[Embedded content]

Eh, they were happy to require every free white male to own a rifle compatible with those of the Army. (Militia Acts of 1792). Had the US Army been equipped with selective fire rifles firing an intermediate cartridge (aka "assault weapons") at that time, I have no doubt that it would have been equally required of all militia members - at that time, all free white males. That was, after all, the defense policy of the federal government and it was hard coded in the 2nd Amendment. All citizens have to be able to be armed for their militia duty so there for restrictions on guns can not be allowed.

ProGunLiberal Wed, Dec 5, 2012 4:54:17pm

Meanwhile, the United Mexican States have figured out the Gay Marriage thing.

Mexican Supreme Court rules for marriage equality

This will likely accelerate our own gradual progress.

Gus Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:01:00pm

re: #27 Our Precious Bodily Fluids

While we're paying homage to Brubeck, I'd like to point out that this is also the Holy Month of Zappadan.

December 4 marks the anniversary of Zappa's death in 1993, and the beginning of the Festival of Zappadan. Zappadan ends on Frank's birthday, which falls on the 21st of December.

Expect miracles.

[Embedded content]

Napoleon Murphy Brock Interview

Youtube Video

ProGunLiberal Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:03:19pm

re: #29 ProGunLiberal

The Mexican-Americans in the US should reach out to Gay Rights groups to make a combined effort on two fronts.

Immigration Reform and Gay Marriage. The Democrats finally have an opportunity to become a cohesive party. Use it!!!!!

engineer cat Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:05:15pm

re: #27 Our Precious Bodily Fluids

While we're paying homage to Brubeck, I'd like to point out that this is also the Holy Month of Zappadan.

December 4 marks the anniversary of Zappa's death in 1993, and the beginning of the Festival of Zappadan. Zappadan ends on Frank's birthday, which falls on the 21st of December.

Expect miracles.

[Embedded content]

as my zappadan observance, i will try to Make A Jazz Noise Here

darthstar Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:07:11pm

Pelicans from this morning...

Image: 64605_10151300016778024_194749069_n.jpg

Banjo enjoying my unemployment.
Image: 432290_10151299812508024_1604515093_n.jpg

Gus Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:09:22pm

Billy Cobham - Drumsolo II

Youtube Video

Bam!

Bear Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:13:14pm

Sad news tonight. Dave RIP
Then there is this [Link: worldnews.nbcnews.com...]

Obdicut Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:18:33pm

re: #28 William Barnett-Lewis

You simply can't compare what the colonials attitude was to firearms to a current one. It makes absolutely no sense to set gun law by the conditions of the US circa 1789. The founding fathers aren't really to blame; it is short-sighted to have one section in the constitution that's so obviously going to become dated thanks to technological change, but the main thing that has made it so outdated is societal change.

That being said, the damage is pretty much done. We're awash in guns, but a lot more dangerously, we're awash in macho bullshit posturing. It's part of the whole testosterone-fueled feel-good stuff in the "stand your ground" laws. I mean, it's in the name, like, "Yeah, stand your ground, be a man." Fuck no. If you are in a potentially lethal confrontation and you have a way out, take it. It's not only ethically better, it's safer.

What I regret is how the gun-culture in the US turned into this 'let's all pretend guns are actually useful to us in our daily lives for protection and shit' instead of admitting the likelihood for the vast majority of people of ever being in a situation where they need a gun is tiny.

makeitstop Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:28:40pm

My favorite Brubeck song:

Youtube Video

engineer cat Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:28:42pm

re: #35 Bear

Sad news tonight. Dave RIP
Then there is this [Link: worldnews.nbcnews.com...]

Syria loads chemical weapons into bombs; military awaits Assad's order

what military action will we take when the red line is crossed?

Bubblehead II Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:29:55pm

Night Lizards. Charles, My condolence's on the loss of a friend.

Been there, more times than I want to think about.

Suck out living your family and friends.

Sleep well Lizards

engineer cat Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:30:32pm

re: #37 makeitstop

My favorite Brubeck song:

[Embedded content]

wolfgang could rondo a little turk too yanno...

Killgore Trout Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:31:22pm

re: #38 engineer cat

Syria loads chemical weapons into bombs; military awaits Assad's order

what military action will we take when the red line is crossed?

I would guess air strikes and lots of them. Government buildings, military bases, etc. I'm sure there's no shortage of of easy and obvious targets.

ProGunLiberal Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:34:18pm

re: #38 engineer cat

Attack, and plausibly ground invasion by some NATO members.

wheat-dogghazi Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:50:04pm

I consider myself fortunate to have heard Brubeck and his Quintet in concert back in the 1980s. My son saw him more recently at an Indiana gig. Great performer and a really nice man.

freetoken Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:56:37pm

Brubeck's music has always been a challenge for me. Even compared to some of the mid 20th century serious composers who went all atonal or otherwise experimental, Brubeck's music struck me as strangely cerebral.

engineer cat Wed, Dec 5, 2012 5:58:44pm

re: #44 freetoken

Brubeck's music has always been a challenge for me. Even compared to some of the mid 20th century serious composers who went all atonal or otherwise experimental, Brubeck's music struck me as strangely cerebral.

many would agree

Spy Mode Auto

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Dave Brubeck RIP: Dave and his Quartet performing St. Louis Blues

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Frank says: