World renowned musician Dave Brubeck was first known for his music with intricate rhythm, and swing characteristics that is defined as “West Coast Cool”. Dave Brubeck Quartet was really famous in the 1950s and they are shown as the reason why jazz started to gain popularity in university campuses. Brubeck Quartet toured with legends like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz and their fanbase increased considerably in size. Brubeck released his “Time Out” album, in which he did his first experimentation on irregular rhythms, with his group in 1960, and put his signature on jazz classics like “Take Five” and “Blue Rondo”.
Brubeck Institute was founded by University of Pacific in 2000. The institute’s vision, with Dave Brubeck’s request, was build around his music, creativity and his passion for education as well as social topics like civil rights, environmental sensitivities, international relations and social justice.
The mission of the institute revolves around five main programs: Institute Brubeck Archive, Brubeck Festival, Brubeck Outreach Program, Brubeck Jazz Fellowship Program and a series of summer courses called Summer Jazz Colony. We hope that you can get a closer look at Brubeck Institute’s work and learn how to participate in its education programs and how it could shape your future goals.
The Institute offers performance alternatives to its students, especially through their scholarship programs, and some opportunities are available for these students to perform and practice with professional musicians and some masters of jazz. Brubeck Institute doesn’t only teach music to jazz students, but also offer courses on social and philosophical topics.
Dave Brubeck describes the school as such in his own words:
“Once when asked how I would like to be remembered, I answered, “As someone who opened doors.” The purpose of the Brubeck Institute is to provide the key that opens doors for all who participate, whether as a research scholar in the Brubeck Archives, a Brubeck Fellow or Colonist, a member of academic symposia, a classical performer or teacher, contemporary composer, or an interested member of the audience. The door is open. Welcome!”
The Brubeck Outreach Program is designed to encourage the performance, study and understanding of jazz in its many forms, explore contemporary concert music, enlighten and broaden the general knowledge and appreciation of music, and promote the understanding of the work and influence of Dave Brubeck. The most interesting supporter of this program is Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet. BIJQ travel to do clinics and performances in communal schools, colleges and universities, libraries and museums and other venues around the country.
The Brubeck Institute’s Fellowship Program is a one or two-year full-scholarship program in jazz performance for up to five musicians who have just graduated from high school. Upon completion of the program, each student pursue a career in jazz performance and takes part in the annual show that takes place at Yoshi’s Jazz House in Oakland.
As part of their educational opportunities, the Brubeck Fellows annually attend the Monterey Jazz Festival and the annual IAJE conference. They take classes in the Institute, in the Conservatory of Music, and have individual lessons, group rehearsals and coaching, and discussions with visiting artists and clinicians throughout the year. The students in this program are aged between 17 and 19. Musicians attending other college or university programs are not eligible for this fellowship program. The Fellows get the opportunity to play their individual instruments and work with the musicians mentioned below:
University of the Pacific Student Jazz Quintet (Photo: www.pacific.edu)
For example, the Fellows worked with these musicians in the past years: Pianists Dave Brubeck, Joe Gilman, Mark Levine, Kenny Werner, Darius Brubeck, John Salmon, Geoff Keezer, Peter Hovath, Rebecca Mauleon, Donald Brown; saxophonists Bobby Militello, Jimmy Heath, Bobby Watson, Bennie Maupin, Vincent Herring, Miguel Zenon, Greg Tardy, Jim Snidero, Daniel Zinn, Charles McNeal, Anton Schartz, Eric Marienthal, Michael Zilber, John Dankworth, Marcus Strickland; trumpet players Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Ingrid Jensen, Ralph Alessi, Brian Lynch, Louis Fasman, Gabriel Alegria, Mie Gillette, bassists; Christian McBride, Micheal Moore, Robert Hurst, Jeff Chambers, Rufus Reid, Marcus Shelby, Glenn Richman, Matt Penman; drummer and percussionists Randy Jones, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Ndugu Chancler, Vince Lateano, Joe Chambers, Lewis Nash, Dan Brubeck, Eric Harland, Peter Magadini.
The Summer Jazz Colony is a one-week, intensive educational program in jazz performance for a very limited number of exceptionally talented students. They come from throughout the United States and beyond to study with Brubeck Institute faculty, guest artists and master teachers, in combo rehearsals, master classes and private instruction, classes in jazz theory and advanced jazz improvisation, and seminars on the music of Dave Brubeck and other topics. Colonists have extensive opportunities to visit with the artists and clinicians, participate in numerous jam sessions, and perform in concert.
In the meanwhile let us relay some information about the Brubeck Festival: This festival is organized annually with the aim of expressing Dave Brubeck’s musical, intellectual and philosophical ideas. It includes courses on jazz and contemporary concert music, as well as academic symposiums.
For more information: http://www.pacific.edu/Brubeck-Home.html
