Brubeck, Dave

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American pianist, composer, and bandleader.

From the description of Typewritten letter signed, dated Wilton, Conn., 1 August 1999, to Joan Peyser, 1999 Aug. 1. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270992201

David Warren "Dave" Brubeck (b. 1920), jazz pianist and composer, has enjoyed wide public acclaim in a career that spans the entire second half of the 20th century. A California native, he was early identified as an important proponent of the so-called "West Coast sound," a jazz style of the 1950s noted for its restraint, lyricism and use of devices borrowed from classical and world music traditions. Having become convinced that phonograph records were the key to wide success, Brubeck co-founded Fantasy Records (1949) and began issuing recordings of his work with the Dave Brubeck Trio, which included percussionist Cal Tjader. Brubeck later formed a quartet featuring alto saxophonist Paul Desmond and the two continued their partnership for more than sixteen years (1951-1967), producing more than thirty recordings, including the best-selling single jazz number of all time, "Take Five." Because of Dave's antipathy for the nightclub environment, his Quartet pioneered, and to a large extent created, the university jazz concert circuit. After 1958, when the group toured Europe, Asia and the Near East for the U.S. State Department, their reputation extended to much of the rest of the world. From 1968, Brubeck devoted much of his time to the composition and performance of extended works, often employing the resources of a large chorus and symphony orchestra, and incorporating a blend of fully-notated and improvised elements.

From the description of Dave Brubeck collection, 1920- (University of the Pacific). WorldCat record id: 43211358

American jazz composer.

From the description of Dave Brubeck letter to Look magazine, 1955. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 649707647

Biography / Administrative History

Dave Brubeck is a world-renowned pianist and composer of jazz and classical music. Brubeck has been performing professionally since the 1930s and continues to tour the world. The Brubeck Quartet embodied the sound of "West Coast jazz" and was one of the most popular bands in the world during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1959 the Quartet released the groundbreaking album Time Out, which featured jazz performed in unusual time signatures. One of the tunes from this album, "Take Five," became the best selling jazz single in history.

Throughout his career, Brubeck has been a pioneer in exploring musical approaches such as polytonality (playing multiple keys within the same tune) and polyrhythms (playing multiple rhythms within the same tune). Although best known as a jazz musician, Brubeck's compositions include large-scale choral and orchestral works in a classical tradition. In addition to his musical achievements, Brubeck is also known for his life-long support of human rights and social justice.

From the guide to the Brubeck collection, ca. 1890-, ca. 1945-, (University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Dept. of Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf NCSA Jazz Ensemble. NCSA Jazz Ensemble [sound recording]. University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Semans Library
creatorOf Saxton, Judith (Judith A.). Faculty/alumni jazz septet [sound recording] University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Semans Library
referencedIn The Bell Telephone Hour collection of sound recordings [sound recording], 1940-1968 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Macero, Teo, 1925-2008. Teo Macero collection, 1949-1992, 1958-1975 (bulk). New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Brubeck collection, ca. 1890-, ca. 1945- University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
creatorOf Brubeck, Dave. Correspondence. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn The Benny Goodman Papers, 1910-1992, inclusive Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Brubeck, Dave. Watusi [sound recording] / [arr. by Livingston Gearhart]. SUNY at Buffalo, University at Buffalo
referencedIn Susan Matheson collection on Iola Brubeck, 1995-2002, 1995-2002 University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Desmond, Paul, 1924-1977. Paul Desmond Papers, 1890-1991 (bulk, 1940-1970). University of the Pacific, William Knox Holt Memorial Library
referencedIn Milnes, Harriett. Duke Ellington oral history, 1939-1987 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn American Ballet Theatre records, 1936-ca. 1967 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Matheson, Susan Childs. Susan Matheson Collection on Iola Brubeck, 1995-2002. University of the Pacific, William Knox Holt Memorial Library
creatorOf NCSA Jazz Ensemble. NCSA Jazz Ensemble [sound recording]. University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Semans Library
creatorOf Eckert, Clayton. Junior recital [sound recording] : University of Central Oklahoma/School of Music, Choir Room, Monday, March 26, 2007, 7:30 PM / Clayton Eckert, percussion. University of Central Oklahoma, Chambers Library
referencedIn Winigrad, Allen J.,. Allen J. Winigrad slides of performing artists, 1973-1989. University of Pennsylvania Library
creatorOf University of the Pacific. Conservatory of Music. Conservatory of Music, University of the Pacific presents Centennial concert featuring Dave Brubeck [sound recording]. University of the Pacific, William Knox Holt Memorial Library
referencedIn Nicolas Slonimsky Collection, 1873-1997, (bulk 1920-1990) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Paul Desmond Papers, 1890-1991, (bulk, 1940-1970) University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Dave Brubeck collection, [ca. 1947-ongoing]. Museum of Performance & Design
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Video Recordings and Motion Picture Film Relating to the Work of Willis Conover National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Brubeck, Dave. Dave Brubeck collection, 1920- University of the Pacific, William Knox Holt Memorial Library
referencedIn Ambassador Auditorium Collection, 1974-1995 Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries
creatorOf Brubeck, Dave. In your own sweet way / Dave Brubeck; arr. for strings and combo [by] Howard R. Brubeck. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Brubeck, Dave. Dave Brubeck letter to Look magazine, 1955. Library of Congress
creatorOf NCSA Jazz Band. Jazz Ensemble [sound recording]. University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Semans Library
creatorOf NCSA Jazz Ensemble. NCSA Jazz Ensemble [sound recording], University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Semans Library
referencedIn Brubeck, Howard, 1916-1993. Howard Brubeck Papers, 1948-1987. University of the Pacific, William Knox Holt Memorial Library
referencedIn Atkins, Irene Kahn, 1922-. Major figures in American music [A-E] : [oral history]. Yale University Library
creatorOf Brubeck, Dave. Ansel Adams: America, 2008-2010. California state library
referencedIn Teo Macero collection, 1949-1992, 1958-1975 The New York Public Library. Music Division.
referencedIn Doug Russell Collection of Ambassador Recitals, 1992-1996 Archive of Recorded Sound
creatorOf Guelph Spring Festival Archives. Correspondence, contracts, and biographical information related to the performance by Dave Brubeck, May 16, 1983. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf Guelph Spring Festival Archives. An Evening with Dave Brubeck / conducted by Russell Gloyd, May 16, 1983 - house program. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf Brubeck, Dave. The sermon on the mount : anthem / Dave Brubeck. Northwestern University
creatorOf Brubeck, Dave. Typewritten letter signed, dated Wilton, Conn., 1 August 1999, to Joan Peyser, 1999 Aug. 1. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Shelton, Sara,. Murray Louis Dance Company collection, [ca.1964-ongoing]. Museum of Performance & Design
referencedIn Roderick Nordell papers, 1948-2000. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Rudee, M. Lea. San Diego jazz photographs, 1981-1991. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Howard Brubeck papers, 1948-1987 University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Sound Recordings Relating to Willis Conover's quot;History of Jazzquot; Program National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Duke Ellington recordings collection Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Harvard College Library
creatorOf NCSA Jazz Ensemble. Jazz Ensemble [sound recording]. University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Semans Library
creatorOf NCSA Jazz Ensemble. NCSA Jazz Ensemble [sound recording]. University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Semans Library
creatorOf Kaufman, William, 1910-. William and Charlotte Kaufman papers, 1911-2005, (bulk 1932-2002). University of Michigan
referencedIn Winigrad, Allen J.,. Allen J. Winigrad photographs of performing artists, 1973-1989. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf NCSA Jazz Ensemble. NCSA Jazz Ensemble [sound recording]. University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Semans Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith American Ballet Theatre corporateBody
associatedWith Associated Booking Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Associated Booking Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Atlantic Recording Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith Atlantic Records corporateBody
associatedWith Baldwin Piano & Organ Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Bernstein, Leonard, 1918-1990. person
associatedWith Boulez, Pierre, 1925- person
associatedWith Brubeck family family
associatedWith Brubeck family. family
associatedWith Brubeck, Howard. person
associatedWith Brubeck, Howard - 1916-1993 person
associatedWith Brubeck, Iola person
associatedWith Brubeck, Iola. person
associatedWith Columbia Records, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Columbia Records, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Concord Jazz, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Concord Jazz, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Derry Music Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Derry Music Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Desmond, Paul - 1924-1977 person
associatedWith Desmond, Paul, 1924-1977. person
associatedWith Dodge, Joseph Jeffers person
associatedWith Dodge, Joseph Jeffers person
associatedWith Eckert, Clayton. person
associatedWith Fantasy Records corporateBody
associatedWith Fantasy Records. corporateBody
associatedWith Gearhart, Livingston. person
associatedWith Goodman, Benny, 1909- person
associatedWith Guelph Spring Festival Archives. corporateBody
associatedWith Guelph Spring Festival Archives. corporateBody
associatedWith Kaufman, William, 1910- person
associatedWith KUSC (Radio station : Los Angeles, Calif.) corporateBody
associatedWith Macero, Teo, 1925- person
associatedWith Macero, Teo, 1925-2008. person
associatedWith Matheson, Susan Childs person
associatedWith Matheson, Susan Childs. person
associatedWith Milhaud, Darius - 1892-1974 person
associatedWith Milhaud, Darius, 1892-1974. person
associatedWith Morello, Joe - 1929- person
associatedWith NCSA Jazz Band. corporateBody
associatedWith NCSA Jazz Ensemble. corporateBody
associatedWith NCSA Jazz Ensemble. corporateBody
associatedWith NCSA Jazz Ensemble. corporateBody
associatedWith NCSA Jazz Ensemble. corporateBody
associatedWith NCSA Jazz Ensemble. corporateBody
associatedWith NCSA Jazz Ensemble. corporateBody
associatedWith Nordell, Roderick. person
associatedWith Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Music Library. General Manuscript Collection. corporateBody
associatedWith Peyser, Joan, person
associatedWith Rudee, M. Lea. person
associatedWith Shawnee Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Shawnee Press, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Slonimsky, Nicolas, 1894-1995 person
associatedWith Sutton Artists Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith Sutton Artists Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith University of the Pacific. Conservatory of Music. corporateBody
associatedWith Winigrad, Allen J., person
associatedWith Wright, Eugene - 1923- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
United States
Subject
United States
Band music, Arranged
Beatitudes (Music)
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices) with instrumental ensemble
Composers
Composers
Composers
Jazz
Jazz ensemble with string orchestra
Jazz festivals
Music
Music publicity
Music trade
Occupation
Composers
Activity

Person

Birth 1920-12-06

Death 2012-12-05

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 85584867