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Dave Brubeck Quotes

Powerful Dave Brubeck for Daily Growth

About Dave Brubeck

Dave Brubeck (December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012), an American jazz pianist, composer, and educator, was a pivotal figure in the development of contemporary jazz music. Born in Concord, California, he grew up on a small farm, immersed in the rich musical environment provided by his Methodist church and school band. Brubeck's formal music education began at the College of the Pacific, where he studied piano under Clarence White and composition with Frederick Prindle. In 1942, Dave formed a musical group called "The Dave Brubeck Octet" which included his brothers Henry (on bass) and Matthew "Maynard" (on saxophone). The band performed at military bases in the Pacific theater during World War II. After the war, they relocated to New York City, where Brubeck worked as a session musician and accompanied jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman. In 1951, Dave formed "The Dave Brubeck Quartet" with his brothers Henry (bass) and Paul (drums), and Cal Tjader on vibraphone. They recorded several albums but gained widespread recognition in 1954 with their debut album for Columbia Records, "Jazz at Oberlin." It was followed by the iconic "Time Out" (1959), which featured the hit single "Take Five," composed by Paul Desmond. The album's innovative rhythmic structures and improvisational complexities cemented Brubeck's reputation as a progressive jazz musician. Throughout his illustrious career, Brubeck composed over 250 works, including concerti for orchestra and chamber ensembles. His collaboration with lyricist Bob Russell resulted in several popular vocal songs, such as "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke." Dave Brubeck's contributions to jazz have been widely recognized, earning him numerous awards, including multiple Grammy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 1996. He continued performing and composing until his death on December 5, 2012, leaving behind an indelible mark on modern jazz music.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The important thing is not to have fun, but to practice."

This quote emphasizes that while enjoying one's activity or hobby is essential, consistent effort through practice is crucial for mastery and growth. The primary objective lies in the honing of skills rather than merely having fun or seeking enjoyment in the moment. It encourages discipline, persistence, and dedication to one's craft.

"Jazz is a very emotional music. It's not just notes and rhythms – it's a soul music."

The quote by Dave Brubeck suggests that jazz is more than just a collection of notes and rhythms; it's a profoundly emotional genre that resonates with the soul. This emotional depth arises from the personal experiences, feelings, and stories that jazz musicians infuse into their compositions and improvisations, creating a unique connection between the performer and listener. Jazz music is not merely a technical exercise but a form of self-expression, transcending the boundaries of language and culture to touch upon universal human emotions.

"Music is like a dream. One that I cannot help dreaming every time I sit down at the piano."

Dave Brubeck's quote suggests that music, for him, is an expression of the subconscious, much like dreams. When he sits down to play, it triggers a creative flow where he can bring forth melodies that feel as if they are birthed from his inner most thoughts and feelings, making each performance feel like a unique dream coming to life. It highlights the emotional and imaginative nature of music, emphasizing its power to transport listeners and performers alike into vivid, dream-like realms.

"I think jazz musicians are always looking for new sounds, new harmonies, new rhythms. It's part of our nature to try to push the envelope."

Dave Brubeck's quote emphasizes the inherent curiosity and innovative spirit that characterizes jazz musicians. In constant pursuit of novelty, they strive to discover fresh sounds, harmonies, and rhythms, reflecting their desire to challenge established norms and broaden musical boundaries, thereby continuously evolving the genre.

"Life is like a music - it has to be composed by one, felt deeply and played sincerely."

This quote by Dave Brubeck suggests that life, much like music, should be viewed as a personal creation, a composition unique to each individual. The "composition" of our lives refers to the choices we make, the experiences we have, and the paths we choose to follow. The phrase "felt deeply" implies that we should invest our emotions into these life events, acknowledging their impact on us and allowing them to shape who we are as individuals. This emotional connection is akin to the feeling musicians have when they play an instrument, pouring their hearts into each note. Lastly, playing "sincerely" represents the importance of authenticity in our actions and interactions throughout life. Just as a musician's performance resonates most powerfully when it comes from a genuine place, our lives will have the greatest impact on others when we act with integrity and truth.

The worst thing about the life of a jazz musician on the road is getting to the gig. Once you're there and playing, it's marvelous.

- Dave Brubeck

Jazz, Worst Thing, Gig

Do you think Duke Ellington didn't listen to Debussy? Louis Armstrong loved opera, did you know that? Name me a jazz pianist who wasn't influenced by European music!

- Dave Brubeck

Think, Debussy, Armstrong, Duke

Concord, California was a great place to grow up.

- Dave Brubeck

Grow, Grow Up, Great Place, Concord

Jazz stands for freedom. It's supposed to be the voice of freedom: Get out there and improvise, and take chances, and don't be a perfectionist - leave that to the classical musicians.

- Dave Brubeck

Voice, Jazz, Perfectionist, Chances

I used to take my mother to Yosemite. When I turned 14, I got my driver's license, and that's where she'd want to go, so I'd go take her there for two weeks.

- Dave Brubeck

Want, Weeks, Turned, Two Weeks

I started growing up in a hurry and taking a lot of the philosophy I'd heard from church as a kid a lot more seriously - especially the Ten Commandments - and wondering how 'Thou shalt not kill' could be so absolutely ignored. It took me until I was in my 40s to write what I was thinking as a young soldier.

- Dave Brubeck

Church, Kid, Young, Thou

I was always very aware of drummers. My oldest brother Henry was a drummer, and he drummed on everything in the house from the kitchen sink to stovepipes. He was the first drummer in the Gil Evans Orchestra, so you've got to know how great he was.

- Dave Brubeck

House, Got, Very, Kitchen Sink

The first choral music I remember hearing was Handel's 'Messiah' when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcast it over the radio.

- Dave Brubeck

I Remember, Over, Broadcast, Messiah

When you hear Bach or Mozart, you hear perfection. Remember that Bach, Mozart and Beethoven were great improvisers. I can hear that in their music.

- Dave Brubeck

Great, I Can, Bach, Perfection

When you start out with goals - mine were to play polytonally and polyrhythmically - you never exhaust that. I started doing that in the 1940s. It's still a challenge to discover what can be done with just those two elements.

- Dave Brubeck

Play, Doing, 1940s, Goals

Jazz isn't dead yet. It's the underpinning of everything in this country. Whether it's a Broadway show, or fusion, or right on through classical music, if it's coming out of the U.S., it's not going to survive unless it's got some jazz influence.

- Dave Brubeck

Country, Through, Some, To Survive

And there is a time where you can be beyond yourself. You can be better than your technique. You can be better than most of your usual ideas. And this is a whole other category that you can get into.

- Dave Brubeck

Other, Usual, Technique, Category

I got a poster from Columbia Records, and there's Miles Davis, Charlie Mingus, Ellington, Count Basie - everybody in that poster has died, I'm the only one left. And great players like Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan, it's hard to believe they're gone because we were all so close. But I believe in the future and the tradition will go on.

- Dave Brubeck

Records, Everybody, Gerry, Poster

Jazz is about freedom within discipline. Usually a dictatorship like in Russia and Germany will prevent jazz from being played because it just seemed to represent freedom, democracy and the United States.

- Dave Brubeck

Like, Within, United States, Dictatorship

If there's a deadline, I work late. If not, I like to have normal hours, and get up early and work. When things are going well, I hate to quit. And then I'll work 'till exhausted.

- Dave Brubeck

Normal, Hours, Till, Deadline

After the Second World War, I returned to California to study composition with Darius Milhaud, who wrote wonderful works like 'Le Boeuf sur le Toit' and 'La Cretion du Monde.' I especially enjoy his work for two pianos, 'Scaramouche.'

- Dave Brubeck

Study, World War I, Works, La

When I was 20, Shostakovich was my favorite composer. I still find his Fifth Symphony wonderful, with its outstanding themes and rhythms. That's the piece that made me want to be a classical composer.

- Dave Brubeck

Outstanding, Rhythms, Still, Symphony

My mother Elizabeth Ivey Brubeck was a pianist who studied with Dame Myra Hess and Tobias Matthey. As a child in California I used to listen to her play Chopin.

- Dave Brubeck

Play, Elizabeth, Studied, Dame

I have more energy at the end than I do at the beginning. You can be so beat up that you can scarcely walk on stage but when you get to the piano the excitement kicks in, you forget about being tired.

- Dave Brubeck

Beginning, More, About, Scarcely

My own Brubeck Institute in California is turning out fantastic young jazz players, and I know great things will happen.

- Dave Brubeck

Young, Will, Happen, Institute

If I told you all the people that have secretly told me I've influenced them, you'd never believe it, and you'll never see it in print, either.

- Dave Brubeck

Believe, Influenced, Them, In Print

My dad was the manager at the 45,000-acre ranch, but he owned his own 1,200-acre ranch, and I owned four cattle that he gave to me when I graduated from grammar school, from the eighth grade. And those cows multiplied, and he kept track of them for years for me. And that was my herd.

- Dave Brubeck

Own, Grammar School, Dad, Graduated

There's a way of playing safe, there's a way of using tricks and there's the way I like to play which is dangerously where you're going to take a chance on making mistakes in order to create something you haven't created before.

- Dave Brubeck

Play, Making Mistakes, Order

It's like a whole orchestra, the piano for me. And also it's to me the greatest instrument. I shouldn't say that, but I believe that this is the only instrument I can really feel happy about playing.

- Dave Brubeck

Happy, Like, About, Orchestra

It's like a whole orchestra, the piano for me.

- Dave Brubeck

Me, Piano, Like, Orchestra

I wanted to be like my father, who was a cattle man and a rodeo roper. And that was - he was my hero, and I wanted to be more like him.

- Dave Brubeck

Father, More, Like, Rodeo

I knew I wanted to write on religious themes when I was a GI in World War II. I saw and experienced so much violence that I thought I could express my outrage best with music.

- Dave Brubeck

Thought, Religious, Outrage, Experienced

I had the first integrated Army band in World War II.

- Dave Brubeck

War, World, Army, World War II

I'm always hoping for the nights that are inspired where you almost have an out of body experience.

- Dave Brubeck

Always, Hoping, Almost, Nights

That's the beauty of music. You can take a theme from a Bach sacred chorale and improvise. It doesn't make any difference where the theme comes from; the treatment of it can be jazz.

- Dave Brubeck

Beauty, Jazz, Treatment, Theme

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