“Milhaud started every lesson with us playing boogie woogie,” says pianist-composer Dave Brubeck. Jerry Lee Lewis would be pleased. Long before concert hall appearances and jazz festivals, Brubeck would play small smoke-filled clubs like the Black Hawk. Places that some audience members would be pleased to brag that they had visited once or twice, Brubeck frequented several nights a week. Clint Eastwood saw Brubeck at the Black Hawk at a time when he had to lie about his age to get inside.
Turner Classic Movies premiered Bruce Ricker’s documentary, Dave Brubeck: In His Own Way, on Monday, December 6, 2010—Brubeck’s 90th birthday. Eastwood serves as executive producer. The film chronicles the beginnings and highlights of a career of over 70 years that continues. Brubeck played over 50 gigs in 2009 and several in 2010.
Brubeck benefited from the G.I. Bill to study music with French composer and conductor Darius Milhaud (who himself had studied with Erik Satie). Viewers learn about the evolution of Brubeck's trio into a quartet when Paul Desmond finally convinced the leader to let him join the group. It turned out to be one of the legendary collaborations in the history of jazz. The stories of drummer Joe Morello and Eugene Wright are told as well. Vintage clips of significant performances are included along with present-day interviews and taped interviews (Walter Cronkite). What was it with the “Roy Orbison” glasses? In most of the clips, everyone in the quartet wore black horn-rims except Wright.
Significant time is given to Brubeck’s family life and the support he received from his wife and six children. (Wife, Iola, booked his numerous college campus shows.) A noteworthy segment is dedicated to the most played jazz song and biggest selling jazz single in history, “Take Five.” Brubeck talks about how the song came about, opportunities for improvising, and how it is still their most anticipated selection in every performance (by the group and audience alike).
Article comments
1 - joe sampietro
Frustrating! Spent a lot of time on this site trying to find out when Dave Brubeck in his own sweet way was going to be played again or when the DVD will be available for purchase.
I saw part of the documentary by accident and would like to see and own the DVD much like Clint Eastwood I too had to lie to get into the Black Hawk to watch Cal Tjader in the early 60's .
If any one has info on the above please email me at joetyl66@hotmail.com
Thanks