He was
whimsically erudite. It’s impossible for me to limit anything to one sentence
or one statement but if I had to, that would be how I’d characterize Brubeck. And
if allowed only one more sentence, I’d try to convey my love of his thick,
chunky chords with sprinkles of more lightly touched, syncopated, now
signature, rhythms. Offered a third sentence, I'd try to capture how elegantly he and Paul Desmond put 9/8 and 4/4 meters in the back of the family station wagon, with snacks, and told them to play pretty together during the drive.
What a
great 91 year run Mr. Brubeck had…in a marrow sucking… “let’s get/give all of
this while we can” kinda way…really, really living and really present. Most
everyone I reckon, will be hearing Blue Rondo A La Turk or Take Five in the background as news spots
and online articles give him his due. But I’ve found something else to share
with you. I love the clip below because it conveys Mr. Brubeck’s genius, his
poised affability and most of all…his humanity.
Onward.
ADG II
4 comments:
Brandenburg Gate: Revisited
pure genius
Paul Desmond. My dad would always have Desmond playing in his car when I would go to flea markets with him. I played Desmond's Bridge Over Troubled Water album at my dad's funeral. I hope he heard.
Thanks for sharing that wonderful little clip.
When my husband attended Drake High School in San Anselmo, CA in the 50's, he said one day they enjoyed a rare treat...Dave Brubeck at Assembly. It was the first time he heard a musical performer live and couldn't believe his good fortune that it was Dave Brubeck.
And, no doubt Mr. Brubeck did it for free.
Gail...that's a great story. Kinda captures the essence of Brubeck's humanity, no?
AnonPaulDesmond...your dad was a Renaissance Man.
AnonBrandenGate...Pure genius. Indeed.
Post a Comment