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NEWSLETTER
A LETTER FROM DAVE
Dear Friends, We have had an incredibly busy spring and it looks like we are going to have an equally challenging summer. Iola will tell you all about the great Brubeck Festival we had in April in Washington, DC. Every day for a week was filled with programs and concerts revolving around the theme of cultural exchange. Our final concert was with Ramsey Lewis at K e n n e d y C e n t e r. Ramseys trio and the DBQ then played a number of split concerts on tour in the Northwest. I usually have a new recording to tell you about. The difference this time is that the new album, to be released in August, consists of old performances. I am talking about 50 YEARS OF DAVE BRUBECK, L I V E AT T H E MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL 1958-2007. The entire album is an eclectic mix and an aural perspective of my various groups over a span of 50 years. In 2007 the Monterey Jazz Festival celebrated and commemorated a half century of memorable performances by most of the biggest names in jazz. As an outgrowth of their golden anniversary, the Festival has been
releasing on their own MJF label, performances selected from their historic Festival archives. Since I was there literally from even before the beginning (when the DBQ auditioned for the city council to demonstrate the kind of music the festival would promote), my producer, Russell Gloyd, decided that rather than choose one complete set from a particular year, we should showcase various groups who have appeared with me at the Festival, starting with Paul Desmond, Eugene Wright and Joe Morello performing Two Part Contention in 1958 and ending in 2007 with my current quartet, Bobby Militello, Randy Jones and Michael Moore, playing Margie. In between are Gerry Mulligan, Jack Six and Alan Dawson performing jumping Bean and Sermon (1971), the latter piece showcasing Mulligans fascinating solo on baritone sax and a piano solo, Goodbye, Old Friend, I played as a tribute to Gerry shortly after his passing in 1996. In addition to the contrapuntal Two Part Contention, the classic quartet performs a signature jazz waltz Someday My Prince Will Come (1962) and, of course, Take Five (1966). One of my favorite
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OKeefe and Dr. Charles Webb on the first panel; and Dr. Penny Von Eschen, author of Satchmo Blows Up The World chairing the second panel that included Ambassador Kenton Keith, Prof. Dan Morgenstern (Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies) and Dr. John Brown. Dr. Von Eschen was presented the Brubeck Scholar Award for 2008. The afternoon concluded with the Polish Andrzej Jagodzinski Trio performing an intriguing program of Chopin-tinged jazz. For an encore they played as a tribute to Dave, Dziekuye, the piece that Dave had written in Poland in 1958 to thank the Polish people. Following the concert, we were surprised and overjoyed to see Annie Ross, that wonderful Annie who sang in the unsurpassed Lambert-Hendricks and Ross vocal trio who recorded the original Real Ambassadors with Louis Armstrong and Carmen McRae. The following afternoon, Dave joined Moderator Gary Giddens, Ramsey Lewis and Dr. Billy Taylor at the Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery for a discussion of the real ambassadors from the perspective of musicians who have dedicated their lives to jazz and promoting world peace and understanding through music and education. Wherever we were in Washington that week the Fellows, as we call The Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet, obligingly showed up to play at receptions that inevitably follow. On Saturday afternoon they finally had the opportunity to shine on The Millennium Stage at Kennedy Center. No trying to play over the chatter and clatter of hors doeuvres and conversation this time! They attracted an enthusiastic overflow crowd that gave them a rousing ovation. The final day, Sunday, music rather than discussion dominated the festival scene. The George Washington University hosted a daylong festival of student jazz bands, and that evening the Dave Brubeck Quartet and the Ramsey Lewis Trio took over the Kennedy Center stage playing before a completely sold-out house. It was a triumphant end to an eventful week. Oh, I forgot to tell you that both Dave and I were interviewed and filmed by the Library of Congress for inclusion in their archives. Nor have I mentioned the delightful dinners we had with friends from San Francisco, Jim Bancroft, Richard and Rose Jeweler, the Yaghsizian family, and a banquet hosted by President Don DeRosa of the University of the Pacific. The Institutes distin-
Our contact with music from other countries influenced the creative output of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, including our experiments in odd time signatures such as Blue Rondo a la Turk and even Take Five. The State Department tour was the wellspring for the entire Jazz Impressions of Eurasia album and later the musical theater piece, The Real Ambassadors. It sparked an interest in ethnic music that continued as the Quartet toured the world, reflected in such recordings as Jazz Impressions of Japan, Bravo, Brubeck, Brandenburg Gate: Revisited and the ballet Points on Jazz based on the theme Dziekuye, the Polish word for thank you. We were the first American jazz group to come to
We were more than a little surprised to read a review by Douglas Lytle on Bloomberg.com headlined Brubeck, Springsteen, Krauss lead 2007 Best U.S. Rock. The name Brubeck seldom if ever appears in the rock news. Believe it or not, Douglas Lytle chose Indian Summer (telarc) as ALBUM OF THE YEAR. He wrote, Brubecks solo piano project is so gorgeous, so full of humanity, so spontaneous and relaxed that it carried me through the late summer and fall without being bested by any other rock or pop artist in the running. Something strange must be happening. On the Play List of the spring issue of New Age Retailer Anne Williams wrote: So why is this jazz masters solo piano album being reviewed in New Age Retailer? Because for many solo piano artists, people like Brubeck are where it all started. For me, the best New Age music is very visual with a strong melody. It makes us feel, it creates images in our mindHis playing is both visual and emotionalthe sound of an intimate, live, private performance in the home of a musical master.
Without a vocal companion, Brubeck is a consummate story teller at the keyboard Andrea Canter, Jazzpolice.com Reflections on the autumn of his yearsFile this under master at work. The Urban Network The highlight is So Lonely, a gorgeous, tearful tune written during the period when President Bush sent the first troops to the Middle East. Oakland Tribune There are hints of the softer side of Scott Joplin, reminders of Keith Jarretts solo explorations, and glimpses of Eubie Blake and Fats Waller, but mostly its just Dave at his most reflective, meditating on a mix of standards, originals and songs he loved long ago. ...Port Folio Weekly (VA) Each interpretation comes laden with memories. And theyre timeless.. Jazz Improv NY
Indian Summer showcases Brubecks spellbinding versatilitybridging the gap between traditional jazz and folkloric appealFrom powerful crescendos and thrilling arpeggi, to pensive chord voices and modal harmony, Brubecks masterful solo performance will endear you to his legendary work for years to come. SoundsOfTimeless.Jazz.com
SHORT NOTES
The Dave Brubeck archive at the University of the Pacific Library in Stockton, California is now catalogued and accessible for scholars on the internet. It is also possible to access clips from an oral history interview with Dave and Iola conducted by Shan Sutton, head of Special Collections. This can be done by going to www.brubeckinstitute.org and clicking on Brubeck Archive. This will take you to the Librarys page. Click on Oral History Project and hear first hand some of the stories Dave tells about the State Department tour in 1958.
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IN REMEMBRANCE
Richard Westenburg, the choral conductor who founded Musica Sacra in 1964 and made it one of the most prestigious choral groups in New York City, died on February 20. A memorial service will be held at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York on May 31 with Musica Sacra singers and Chris and Dave participating in the service. His last choral assignment was preparing his church choir to perform our Christmas cantata La Fiesta de la Posada. On the day of the performance we received word that he had been taken to the hospital in Norwalk. We spoke with him shortly after the concert took place. Typically, his spirits were high and he was sure that he was going to beat the colon cancer that tests had discovered. We will miss him and we acknowledge a great debt to Richard, because early on he championed Brubeck choral works and conducted Mass: To Hope! Voice of the Holy Spirit, Pange Lingua Variations, and La Fiesta de la Posada, performing them more than once at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Berkshire Choral Festival, St. John the Divine and 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church and as guest conductor in Honolulu. His Messiahs were an annual event in New York, and he commanded a far-ranging repertory that included such modern composers as Ligeti, Messiaen and Meredith Monk as well as Haydn, Mozart and Bach. Allan Kozinn in the N.Y.Times described Richard Westenburg as a lively inspiring director who kept close tabs on changing musicological notions about the performance of baroque works but balanced those prescriptions with his own strongly etched sense of style, usually with stimulating results. His bright, shining prescence is sorely missed by all of us who have made music under his direction. In February we learned of the passing of Teo Macero, 82, who produced many of the Dave Brubeck Quartet recordings at Columbia Records including Time Out. His first album with Dave was Jazz Goes to Junior College. A Juilliard graduate, Teo was an avant garde composer and jazz saxophonist who played with Charles Mingus and Teddy Charles. He was A & R man for an illustrious Columbia Records roster that included Mahalia Jackson, J.J. Johnson, Thelonious Monk, Johnny Mathis and Miles Davis. He was most noted for his editing skills, literally creating compositions from snippets of musical ideas from Miles Davis and his band. It is said his technique was partly inspired by works of such avant garde composers as Edgard Varese, who had experimented in tape editing and electronic effects as a method of composition, a technique popular today with some of the more experimental rock groups.
Alfred Publishing now has available almost all of Dave Brubeck choral compositions either in print or for downloading. There are six new Christmas pieces published including Christmas Hymn with words by Poet Laureate Richard Wilbur. Their catalogue includes Hold Fast To Dreams, a choral setting of ten individual Langston Hughes poems; Psalms 23, 30, 120 and 121 from Joy in the Morning; settings of poetry by two other Poet Laureates Wendell Berry and Robert Penn Warren, and Robert Louis Stevenson, as well as Daves major choral and orchestral works - The
SHORT NOTES
Commandments, Mass: To Hope! A celebration, Pange Lingua Variations and Earth Is Our Mother. Alfred also has an extensive selection of solo piano compositions as well as arrangements of some of the more popular pieces for band and orchestra. We are delighted that John Salmon will be performing a recital in the Brubeck Room at the Wilton Library on July 12. Since Dr. Salmon has recorded many of Daves piano pieces and has been named a Brubeck Scholar by the Brubeck Institute, it is our guess that some Brubeck music will be on his program.
Darius had occupied in the wild and wonderful 20s. I wrote the following article for the Fall 2001 Mills Quarterly. A Visit with Madeleine Milhaud, April 19, 2001 by Iola Brubeck Officially, I was never a student of Madeleine Milhaud at Mills, and to my everlasting shame I cannot converse with her in her native language. Nevertheless, I have been studying Madeleine Milhaud since I first met her in 1946. I made the decision, then, that she was a lady I should aspire to emulate. I saw in her petite, still youthful body such beauty, vitality, brilliance and passion that I probably should have felt quite intimidated by her. I was rightfully humbled, but never intimidated by this powerful personality, because it was so bountifully leavened with wit, common sense and compassion. Over the subsequent years my original impression of Madame Milhaud deepened. I observed the loving relationship in her marriage to Darius, so unselfishly providing inspiration and creature comfort throughout his life. Today and every day she continues to zealously champion his music. Our first child, born in 1947, was named Darius, and for good reason. The Milhauds were simply the greatest influence on our lives in those post-war years, when Dave and I were graduate students at Mills. Had the child been a girl, no doubt she would have been a Madeleine. Shortly after her birthday this spring, Dave and I wrote to Madeleine that we were coming to Paris and called her from Brussels a few days before our arrival to arrange a visit. Her schedule, she said, was still in flux, and would we call again when we arrived, which, of course, we did. Since Dave had a concert at the Olympia Theatre the following day, I suggested that we go out to dinner that evening. Oh, so sorry. I already have a dinner engagement that night. How about tomorrow for lunch? we asked. Oh, my dears! I see that I have a luncheon engagement. Can you come in the morning around eleven? Of course. You know the code number. Just come up the stairs. Like school children fearful of displeasing the teacher, we nervously watched the minutes as our taxi threaded through crowded Paris streets to the district of Pigalle, where Madeleine resides. Walking through the doors that have welcomed the greatest painters, composers, dancers, actors, poets, and authors of the 20th century, one senses the histo-
NEXT GENERATION
Matthew Brubeck with pianist David Braid returned recently from a successful three-week tour of China, Quebec and Eastern Ontario promoting their Juno-nominated CD twotet/deuxtet. Who would have thought there would be jazz in Beijings Forbidden City concert hall? In addition to concerts, they also gave jazz workshops to enthusiastic students in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Ottawa. Matt was recently invited to assemble a quintet for a concert of his compositions as part of a jazz composers series at the Jazz East Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia this July. Additionally, he will be joining the DBQ in Boston on June 13th and 14th and in Toronto on July 2nd.
Reviews of twotet/deuxtet album continue to come in, especially after the Juno nomination (Canadian equivalent of a Grammy). Critic Budd Kopman commented that it was a recording to celebrate and become immersed in. Twotet/deuxtet is music making of the highest order; hopefully this duo will continue its journey. Scene Magazine wrote, With such talent at their disposal, any collaboration between these two seasoned musicians is bound to produce a singularly distinctive sound. These compositions integrate elements of jazz, chamber music, and avant garde motifs with a melodic pop sensibility which is unique and truly enjoyablethe most enduring quality of the music is its uncommon marriage of styles which are blended seamlessly in the masters hands.
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One of the most engaging CDs of the year! Karl Stark, Philadelphia Inquirer Once again the BBQ attains that rarefied level where music is both relaxed and expressive, and their joy in its creation is contagious. Theres really nothing out there that comes close to their unique brand of inventiveness. Dr. Judith Schlesinger, All About Jazz
C l a s s i f i e d Reviews:
NOTES ON RECORD
[A] stellar rhythm section clean, crisp swing with great interaction between the players, and a very smart use of space. Sometimes guitar and piano clash in a small combo, but not with DeMicco and Lamb, who show how these two instruments are supposed to work together. And the same can be said for the Brubeck brothers. Dan Brubecks drumming is a revelation, and not just with his solo at the end of the track. Some serious fraternal camaraderie is going down here. This song deserves a double dose of radio airplay. Ted Gioia, jazz.com
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The big news from my perspective is the release of the Brubeck Brothers Quartets second CD on Koch Classified. This title refers to the texture of the CD, about 50 minutes of straight-ahead jazz played in our own distinctive style. (Chris Brubeck Bass & Trombone, Dan Brubeck Drums, Chuck Lamb Piano and Mike DeMicco Guitar) Then we are augmented by the Imani Winds (Valerie Coleman, flute; Toyin SpellmanDiaz, oboe; Mariam Adam, clarinet; Jeff Scott, French horn; Monica Ellis, bassoon), a cutting-edge woodwind quintet that joins the BBQ to play my composition Vignettes for Nonet. This is a classical and jazz hybrid o work in three movements. The Imanis are known for their adventurous collaborations with such renowned jazz artists as Wayne Shorter and Paquito dRivera. We
are very excited about the opportunity to perform and record with them. So far the critical reaction to the new CD has been reaffirming and as we go to press we can project that more enthusiastic comments will be published in the coming months. Im also excited about collaborating with Dave on Ansel Adams: America. Together we are creating a full orchestral work that will include the projected images of Ansel Adams breathtaking photography. The premiere will be performed by the Stockton Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Maestro Peter Jaffe in April, 2009. Other orchestras will be presenting the new composition in an extended premiere season. Back to the studio, lots of notes to write! Chris
ed. Lunch is part of the school program and the report is that children and teachers are still eating, but the When my father received the Benjamin Franklin award, amount has been rationed to about a third of their usual I was happy that I could attend. Later that week my husportions. They are holding on, hoping for relief. band Arne Yaghsizian and our children joined me for Another mission of Jazzd 4 Life, is to reach urban many exciting events at the Brubeck Festival in D.C . American children with cultural opportunities. The day We had another reason to be in Washington, DC, too. after the Kennedy Center concert, Bobby Militello, the My husband and I have established the charity Jazzd 4 sax player in the Dave Brubeck Quartet, ventured into a Life to help young children overseas and in this country. local D.C. public school and held an invigorating Jazzd To raise funds for 4 Life workshop. Two high Jazz'd4Life, we sold school big bands came CDs and T-shirts at The together and you could hear Kennedy Center. The the improvement in the two booth was manned by hours they worked with young Yaghsizians and Bobby. It was fascinating many enthusiastic watching him relate, inspire, cousins who sold merand pull the best out of chandise while explainthese young players! I think ing their mission. their band teachers were The food riots in Haiti very grateful too. had just started that To learn more about Jazzd week and at the time we 4 Life and the work they do thought it was a tempohere and abroad, visit Manning the booth at Kennedy Center, these youngsters are raising funds for Jazzd4Life to send food to a Haitian rary situation. We now orphanage and school. Left to Right: Arne Yaghsizian, Dan Yaghsizian, Berj Bayozian, Erin Meegan, Brian Zahn, www. Jazzed4life.org. J4L realize that the shortage Kristen Meegan, Mariel Yaghsizian, Catherine Yaghsizian is a 501c3 charity and all is more permanent. Jazzd 4 Life is helping collect food donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. and monies for a shipment to Les Cayes, Haiti, where there is a school and orphanage we have long supportCatherine Brubeck Yaghsizian Jazzd 4 Life On the Move in D.C.
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BRUBECK BROTHERS ITINERARY (CHRIS & DAN BRUBECK, MIKE DEMICO, CHUCK LAMB)
Gettysburg, PA June 25 8:00 p.m. Philadelphia, PA June 26 8:00 p.m. Delaware Water Gap, PA June 27 8:00 p.m. Saratoga Springs, NY June 29 4:00 p.m. Machias, Maine July 15 8:00 p.m. Rockland, Maine July 16 8:00 p.m. Majestic Theater 25 Carlisle Street www.gettysburgfestival.org Chriss Jazz Cafe 1421 Samson Street www.chrisjazzcafe.com 610-649-1596 Deer Head Inn 5 Main Street www.deerheadinn.com 570-424-2000 Friehofers Jazz Festival Saratoga Performing Arts Center Centre Street Congregational Church 7 Center Street 207-255-6665 Strand Theater 345 Main Street 207-594-0070 Ketchum, Idaho January 9 7:30 p.m. Ft. Lauderdale, FL February 11 8:00 p.m. Pittsburgh, PA February 15 2:30 p.m. Wickenberg, AZ February 27 7:30 p.m. Charlottesville, VA October 16 8:00 p.m. Paramount Theater 215 East Main Street www.theparamount.net 434-979-1922
Greensboro, NC Christ United Methodist Church 410 N. Holden Road October 17 8:00 p.m. 336-299-1122 Chris & Dan Brubeck w/John Salmon Clearwater, FL October 18 7:15 p.m. Atlanta, GA October 19 3:00 p.m. Clearwater Jazz Holiday Coachman Park 727-430-1505 Serenbe Festival Serenbe Park 404-524-2812
Germantown, TN Germantown Performing Arts Centre November 15 1801 Exeter Road 8:00 p.m. 901-751-7500 Chris, Dan & Dave Brubeck 2009 Sun Valley Center for the Arts Church of the Big Woods www.sunvalleycenter.org 208-726-9491 Amaturo Theater 201 SW 5th Avenue 954-462-0222 Manchester Craftsmens Guild 1815 Metropolitan Street www.mcgjazz.org 412-322-1773 Del E. Webb Center 2001 West Wickenberg Way www.delewebbcenter.org 928-684-6639
Rockport, Maine Rockport Opera House July 17 6 Central Street 8:00 p.m. 207-236-2514 Dan & Chris in performance of Chris Brubecks Danza del Soul Racine, WI July 23 7:00 p.m. Flint, MI August 2 8:00 p.m. Cooperstown, NY August 19 6:00 p.m. Coral Gables, FL August 28 8:00 p.m. Cazenovia, NY September 12 7:30 p.m Animal Crackers Concerts Racine Band Shell, 2131 N. Main Street Flint Jazz Festival Riverbank Park www.greaterflintartscouncil.org 810-238-6875 Cooperstown Chamber Music Festival Otesaga Resort Hotel 917-868-4276 Coral Gables Congregational Church 3010 Desoto Boulevard 305-448-7421 Jazz N Caz Festival www.cazenovia.edu 315-655-7238
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Alexandria High School Auditorium 1401 Jefferson Street 763-559-8019 Thief River Falls High School 101 Knight Avenue 763-559-8019 763-559-8019 Loveland High School Auditorium 1669 Eagle Drive 763-559-8019 763-559-8019
DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET ITINERARY ( BOBBY MILITELLO, MICHAEL MOORE, RANDY JONES )
Vancouver, BC June 23 8:00 pm Victoria, BC June 24 8:00 pm Calgary June 26 7:00 pm Saskatoon June 29 8:00 pm Orpheum Theatre Smythe & Seymour Sts. 604-872-5200 Royal Theatre 805 Broughton 250-388-4423 Jack Singer Concert Hall 205 Eight Ave. SE 403-802-4822 Centennial Hall 35 22nd St. E. 306-938-7800 1-800-970-7328 Four Seasons Center Queen St. & University Ave. DBQ w/Big Band 416-870-8000 Montreal Jazz Festival DBQ & Octet DB Trio & Quartet Montrealjazzfest.com 1-888-515-0515
Summer 2008 -Winter 2008 Visit davebrubeck.com for additions, corrections & information updates. New York, NY May 29 8:00 pm Burlington, VT June 6 8:00 PM Cambridge MA June 13 8:00 pm Boston, MA June 14 8:00 pm Highland Park, IL June 21 7:30 pm Apollo Theater Jazz Foundation Benefit A Great Night in Harlem Flynn Center 153 Main St. 802-865-5966 Sanders Theater 45 Quincy St. 617-876-8742 Berklee College Performance Center 136 Massachusetts Ave. 617-876-8742 Ravinia Festival Lake Cook & Green Bay Rds. DBQ w/ Big Band 847-266-5100
SF Jazz Festival Masonic Aud. California & Taylor 866-920-5299 Walt Disney Concert Hall 151 S. Grand Ave. 323-850-2000
Sheldon Concert Hall 3648 Washington Blvd. 314-533-9900 Juanita Hammons Hall 525 S. Hammons Pkwy. Missouri St. University 417-836-7678 Hanover Theater 2 Southbridge
Germantown, TN Performing Arts Center Nov. 15 1801 Exeter St. 8:00 pm w/ Dan & Chris Brubeck & Bobby Militello 901-751-3510 New York, NY Nov. 28,29,30 Shows @ 8:00 & 10:30 pm The Blue Note 731 W. 3rd St. 212-475-8592
Immaculate Conception Church 237 Garden Hills Dr. Canticles: In Praise of Mary 401-942-1854 The Patriots Stadium Showcase @ #1 Patriot Place
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Inquiries about bookings for The Dave Brubeck Quartet should be directed to: