Meetings with Jazz Greats | The Dave Brubeck quatrtet

The Dave Brubeck Quartet introduced a highly accessible "Cool Jazz" to a global audience, blending relaxing explorations of time with innovative versions of the Great American Songbook. As America’s Cultural Ambassadors, their travels through Japan, Eurasia, and the Middle East inspired a unique musical language—translating global rhythms into a sophisticated jazz.

Following previous events in the series "Encounters with Jazz Greats," dedicated to the music of pianist Oscar Peterson and the duo of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass, photojournalist Ludo Segers (Luxembourg/Canada) now invites us to an encounter with the work of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. As in previous evenings, the music itself will be the main focus, while Ludo's stories and insights will provide a broader context – from historical circumstances to lesser-known details about the work of this legendary ensemble.

The afternoon is structured in two essential parts. The first half celebrates the quartet's rise from playing US college campuses to becoming the first jazz group to sell a million copies of an album and land a hit on the Billboard 100. The second part delves into the heart of their legendary live performances and duo collaborations. From the prestigious stages of Montreux and Newport to the "high art" peak of Carnegie Hall, the session showcases top-notch studio and live recordings. The evening concludes with the intimate setting of Paul and Dave as a duo, featuring some of Desmond’s finest solo phrasing. Ludo offers layman’s insights into the technical choices that made this partnership special, creating an unforgettable celebration of Cool Jazz at its very best.

The event will be held in ENGLISH.

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CLOSER TO MUSIC events are not concerts, but rather evenings of encounters with music, led by interesting “companions” – musicologists, musicians, music lovers – who are fans of a particular genre, composer, instrument, performer, or country’s musical culture. They talk about the peculiarities of this music, demonstrate it live, and select characteristic recordings for listening. The recordings are reproduced in high quality from vinyl records or high-resolution digital files, allowing you to feel the specific emotional content, appreciate the nuances of the performance, and reveal the depths of this music.