Our Mission
The mission of Brubeck Living Legacy is to promote awareness, interest and the understanding of jazz and its role in American and international culture and to build on Dave and Iola Brubeck’s lifelong dedication to music, creativity and the promotion of social justice through performance, education and outreach. Brubeck Living Legacy honors Dave and Iola’s belief in our shared humanity and the power of music to connect people from all walks of life.
— THE BRUBECK FAMILY —
Throughout his long career Dave’s work expressed his strongly held beliefs focusing on international understanding, reconciliation between communities, civil rights and the natural environment. While universally popular as a jazz musician, his social themes provide additional scope for ‘legacy’ projects to be undertaken in the Brubeck name. For now, Brubeck Living Legacy’s main activities are encouraging and coordinating centennial events, maintaining Dave and Iola’s archives, and partnering with Classical Tahoe and San Francisco Conservatory of Music to create the Brubeck Jazz Summit, a week-long jazz camp at beautiful Lake Tahoe. Although not primarily a grant-making body, we would like to hear from people who have ideas for relevant projects, especially during this centennial year.
Designated a Living Legend by the Library of Congress and a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts, the name Dave Brubeck instantly brings to mind hits such as ‘Take Five’, ‘Blue Rondo a la Turk’ and ‘Unsquare Dance’ and albums by the ‘classic’ quartet with Paul Desmond on alto sax, Eugene Wright on bass and Joe Morello on drums. Dave later went on to pursue his life-long interest in composition in both classical and jazz genres, often combining the two in large-scale orchestral settings. He also continued to tour the world leading outstanding groups. As a jazz pianist, his highly improvisatory style ranged from stride piano to the avant garde; he loved playing the blues and writing fugues. In this spirit, Brubeck Living Legacy hopes to support educational and artistic endeavors that not only honor but add to the legacy of Dave & Iola Brubeck.
— DARIUS BRUBECK
“My father was equally excited by Duke Ellington, J.S. Bach, Art Tatum and his teacher Darius Milhaud.”
My parents would like to be remembered as people who opened doors and Brubeck Living Legacy will continue honoring their generous spirit by inspiring musicians and fans around the world. My father believed in integrating all kinds of great music and was equally excited by Duke Ellington, J.S Bach, Art Tatum and his teacher Darius Milhaud. His all-encompassing career included scores of classical compositions for orchestra and chorus in addition to the hundreds of jazz compositions made famous by his groups and played by other great musicians all over the planet. Brubeck Living Legacy will sustain my parents’ vision by partnering with organizations to support concerts, educational programs, and other initiatives that make high quality music inviting for everyone to experience.
— CHRIS BRUBECK
