“The reigning elder statesman of jazz.”
–Washington Post

In the ’50s, the Dave Brubeck Quartet redefined jazz, making odd time signatures swing, and putting jazz atop the pop charts with the single “Take Five.” At 87, Brubeck is a lion in winter, a jazz legend who refuses to rest on his laurels, which include a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Brubeck remains a creative force with a knack for capturing the public’s imagination, particularly with his hard-charging quartet.

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In the ’50s, the Dave Brubeck Quartet redefined jazz, making odd time signatures swing, and putting jazz atop the pop charts with the single “Take Five.” At 87, the legendary pianist is a lion in winter, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient who refuses to rest on his laurels. Brubeck continues to compose and perform at a daunting pace, creating new works and revisiting significant pieces from his vast catalog, which includes standards such as “The Duke,” and “In Your Own Sweet Way.”

While he has composed ambitious works for symphony orchestras, Brubeck is at his most vivid and engaging as a percussive-minded pianist driving his superlative quartet. Though Bobby Militello is more rhythmically assertive on alto, he clearly follows in the lithesome footsteps of Paul Desmond, Brubeck’s invaluable foil in the original quartet. The British-born drummer Randy Jones has performed with Brubeck for three decades, while the band’s latest addition is Michael Moore, a bass virtuoso equally skilled at bowed solos as propulsive walking lines.

Brubeck has maintained his astounding creative output by remaining open to the sounds and people around him. Born and raised on a ranch in rural Concord, CA, he has always found inspiration in nature. These days, Brubeck does most of his writing from the rural Connecticut home he shares with his wife of more than 60 years, Iola, a creative partner who has contributed lyrics to many of the pianist’s compositions. His latest album is a gorgeous, elegaic solo session Indian Summer for his long-time label Telarc.

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