Celebrating The Life And Music Of Jazz Pianist And Composer Dave Brubeck

Born a century ago. Lots of programming recently on BBC radio 3.

https://www.npr.org/2020/12/04/942949661/celebrating-the-life-and-music-of-jazz-pianist-and-composer-dave-brubeck

This is FRESH AIR. I'm Dave Davies in for Terry Gross. Today, we celebrate the life and music of Dave Brubeck, the influential jazz pianist and composer. This Sunday marks the centennial of his birth. His career lasted nearly 70 years. He was still performing in his 90s. He died in 2012 on the eve of his 92nd birthday. Brubeck's album "Time Out," released in 1961, was the first jazz album to sell a million copies. And "Take Five," the album's hit single, was, in the words of our jazz critic, Kevin Whitehead, a musical symbol of Kennedy-era optimism.

Terry interviewed Dave Brubeck in 1999. They started with Brubeck's composition "Three To Get Ready" from the "Time Out" album, which illustrates how the Dave Brubeck Quartet approached counterpoint and eccentric rhythms. Paul Desmond is featured on alto saxophone, Eugene Wright, bass, and Joe Morello, drums.