[Dixielandjazz] : In College, Brubeck Couldn't Read Music.- Barbone

[Norman Vickers]

To:  Musicians and Jazzfans list; DJML

 

More Brubeck stuff- this time from Steve Barbone

 

 

 

From: Stephen G Barbone [mailto:barbonestreet at earthlink.net] 
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009 9:33 AM
To: Norman Vickers
Subject: In College, Brubeck Couldn't Read Music.

 

Dear Norm:

 

Below from a PBS broadcast about Brubeck. He had entered the College of the
Pacific to study Veterinary Medicine, however switched to the Music School
there, in his second year.

start snip -

Dave excelled in music school. He mastered reed and brass instruments,
playing perfect scales, imitating the musical phrases he heard in class and
putting off keyboard instruction until his senior year, knowing it would
reveal his worst secret: He couldn't read a note of music. "The piano
teacher in my senior year figured it out in about five minutes." Brubeck
says, "And that piano teacher went right downstairs to the Dean and said,
'That kid can't read anything.' And the Dean called me in and he said, 'We
can't let you graduate with your class.' And I said, 'Okay.' And he said,
'Well doesn't that disturb you?' And I said, 'No, all I want to do is play
jazz and I can do that.'"

But in terms of sheer talent, Brubeck was at the top of his class, excelling
in composition, harmony and musical improvisation. So when his music
teachers got wind that the Dean was going to block Brubeck's graduation,
they came to his defense. "The ear training teacher went to the Dean and
said, 'You're making a mistake. Brubeck's one of my best students,' Dave
recalls. "And the Dean called me back in and he said, 'You know, I've heard
some rather interesting reports on you. If you promise never to teach and
embarrass the school, I'll let you graduate with the class.' And I said, 'I
promise, I'll never teach.'"

end snip - (He graduated in 1942 and entered the Army)

 

Another fact about Brubeck (and his wife) is that those College tours which
brought the group fame, were self promoted. He and wife Lola, (who was the
inspiration for the idea), sat down at their kitchen table, composed promo
letters and bio information about the band and send them off to about 50
colleges. The result was 9 firm college bookings within a year and the
quartet was on its way to fame and a huge audience. After that, Joe Glaser,
Armstrong's manager, sought them out and became their agent.

 

Brubeck's self promotion was in large measure, a model that I still follow
today with the promotion of my own band. Works well for us.

 

Cheers,

 Steve Barbone

 

 www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband

 

Noman writes:  there is a  relatively recent two-CD offering.  One is solo
piano featuring songs played during WWII.  Second is a narrative -an
interview about his work with small group during WWII.  His commanding
officer wanted a band so  private Brubeck, who could play piano, got a group
together.  There was no authorization for the band, so when it was time for
someone to be transferred, the CO "lost" their military records.

When they were at the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, the CO gave the
band a truck and told them to "take a Cook's tour"-Brubeck didn't know about
the organization, but they had some nervous times getting safely to US
occupied territory.  There was consternation at home too.  The Military
would call Iola and ask if she knew the whereabouts of her husband.  She
replied, " I don't know, you're responsible for him.  What have you done
with him?"

There was hell to pay when there was a movie clip, after surrender of
Germany, Brubeck was playing piano behind some Rockettes who'd come over for
a USO tour. Iola saw that movie news  short and there was some explaining to
do by her husband.

 
--End--