[Dixielandjazz] Brubeck and Bayzendorfer

[ROBERT R. CALDER]

Bayzendorfer is of course Marty Grosz's neo-Yiddish mispronunciation, 

Dave Brubeck observed on one TV documentary that he could use music paper to write his own music on, and draft scores,
even compose. He couldn't read what anybody else had written, and as I recall this was properly understood later as no obstacle since Dave was studying COMPOSITION. 

In Nuremberg the Opera House survived all the bombing, etc., and the place was used as a dance hall etc.  and Dave was the bandleader.  
It is not a very large building. 
The CD included with his WW2 tunes -- including one wartime composition -- has various reminiscences about his vast feet and ditching his boots in the Normandy surf,
and generally being kept out of trouble for the sound military purpose of having a musician around when one was needed. 
It's an interview by Walter Cronkite. 
Cronkite suggests to Dave that there was probably some abatement in his father's apparently total lack of interest in music and Dave's career as a musician, when the old boy was brought along to some event celebrating Dave's success.
Dave can be heard chuckling darkly.  No, not even then.  
The first time I ever heard Art Tatum's "Elegie" (Massenet) was in the course of Dave talking on BBC radio decades ago  --- about how he impressed his mother into supporting his musical ambitions. This was the sort of thing he wanted to do, he told her .... and he had her blessing. 

 
________________________________
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:
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--