Requiem in pace, Dave. Dave Brubeck who was most famous for his Quartet died today. Few can claim title to legend but he certainly can. I posted a recording of he and his quartet playing his well known piece "Take Five" here last February: Take Five
Words fail me. Take a moment, say a prayer, say a thank you. If you are able to to enjoy some of his sound which has been described as "accessible as it is ingenious, as stress-free as it is rhythmically emphatic, as open-hearted as it is wide-ranging", please do so.
The Los Angeles Times a nice story and video of him as well. Dave Brubeck, jazz legend, dies at 91
My friends over at Commonweal have a good story on him describing the spiritual experience of the creative process. Great Art Survives.
IAN MARCUS CORBIN: You have spoken in interviews about moments onstage when you have become so wrapped up in the music you are playing that you seem to go “beyond” yourself. Is this ecstatic experience like other deep emotional experiences—say, romantic love or spiritual contemplation? Or is it something entirely different?
DAVE BRUBECK: The source of inspiration can be any of the things you mentioned. I think such rare moments come only when you have total concentration. You are consumed in and by the music. I guess you could say that it is akin to contemplation. In order to reach this desirable state of mind you have to rise above the environment you’re in at that particular time—a bad piano, glaring stage lights, or the attitude of the audience. Sometimes the inspiration of the other musicians you’re playing with helps you reach this stage. Playing solo you are dependent on your own ability to concentrate and to create—excluding all distractions from the environment or other parts of your mind.
Words fail me. Take a moment, say a prayer, say a thank you. If you are able to to enjoy some of his sound which has been described as "accessible as it is ingenious, as stress-free as it is rhythmically emphatic, as open-hearted as it is wide-ranging", please do so.
The Los Angeles Times a nice story and video of him as well. Dave Brubeck, jazz legend, dies at 91
My friends over at Commonweal have a good story on him describing the spiritual experience of the creative process. Great Art Survives.
IAN MARCUS CORBIN: You have spoken in interviews about moments onstage when you have become so wrapped up in the music you are playing that you seem to go “beyond” yourself. Is this ecstatic experience like other deep emotional experiences—say, romantic love or spiritual contemplation? Or is it something entirely different?
DAVE BRUBECK: The source of inspiration can be any of the things you mentioned. I think such rare moments come only when you have total concentration. You are consumed in and by the music. I guess you could say that it is akin to contemplation. In order to reach this desirable state of mind you have to rise above the environment you’re in at that particular time—a bad piano, glaring stage lights, or the attitude of the audience. Sometimes the inspiration of the other musicians you’re playing with helps you reach this stage. Playing solo you are dependent on your own ability to concentrate and to create—excluding all distractions from the environment or other parts of your mind.
RSS Feed
