Interview: Chris Brubeck and THE BRUBECK SONGBOOK at NJPAC on 11/6

"The Brubeck Songbook" will be performed at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Sunday, November 6th for two shows, 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm. featuring the renowned Brubeck Brothers Quartet (with Chris Brubeck, Dan Brubeck, Chuck Lamb and Mike DeMicco) along with singer/pianist Hilary Kole and WBGO Jazz 88.3 host Michael Bourne. They will delight guests in the intimate setting of NJPAC's Chase Room.

Broadwayworld.com had the fantastic opportunity to chat with Chris Brubeck. Chris is the son of the famous jazz musician and pianist, Dave Brubeck, and spoke with us about growing up in a musical family, his current career and told us what New Jersey audiences can expect from the upcoming performance at NJPAC.

Chris is a Grammy-nominated composer, orchestral arranger, lyricist and performer. He plays three instruments: electric fretless bass, bass trombone and piano and is equally at home playing jazz, rock, classical, funk and folk music. This is evident when one listens to his various genre-bending compositions, including his "Vignettes for Nonet" written for the Brubeck Brothers Quartet and the talented woodwind quintet, the Imani Winds. In addition to his instrumental work with the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, Chris also plays, sings and records with his acoustic funk-blues group, Triple Play.

We asked Chris when he first discovered his penchant for music. "I think it was evident to me and my family when I started piano lessons at the age of 5. My father, being a wise man, wanted me to begin the process of understanding fundamental musical knowledge and the process of learning to play. Even though my dad was a true musical genius, he wasn't the one to give me the tools."

We wondered if Chris had a preference for one of the musical instruments that he plays. He told us that he has no real preference and commented, "I like the fact that I play three instruments a lot."

The home base for the Brubeck family was Montclair, California until they moved to Wilton, Connecticut in the early 1960's. We asked Chris if his father encouraged him and his brothers to become professional musicians. "He didn't care if we became musicians or not. He grew up on a ranch and actually started out as a cowboy working for a dollar a day. He began his musical career playing club gigs. Our family had to live lean. Travelling around at various hotels, my mom would make a crib bed in dresser drawers for me and my two older brothers, Darius and Mike, would sleep on blow-up mattresses in the closet. My dad understood that if we became musicians, there could be economic hardship and you have to make your own luck."

Chris also told us a little about his family history. His paternal grandmother Bessie was very cultured and went to Europe for a year to study with a student of Franz Liszt, taking her oldest son Henry with her while leaving her husband Pete Brubeck home with their other two sons, Howard and Dave. All three sons became musicians, with Dave starting his musical career playing honky-tonk piano at local dances. Dave met Chris's mother Iola when he attended University of Pacific Veterinary School. They decided to marry on their very first date to a college dance.

Chris told us a little more about his mother, Iola. "Not only did she raise six kids, but she also was a great lyricist." She was instrumental in launching Dave Brubeck's career. In the early years, Iola was his manager, booking him to play jazz at colleges and universities, something that hadn't been done before. Chris commented, "My mother really got my father's career hopping."

Chris has a fascinating history of playing music with his family. In 1972 he joined his father and brothers Darius and Daniel in The New Brubeck Quartet and later formed the Brubeck Brothers Quartet with brother, Dan. He commented about playing with his brothers. "I do like playing with my family. Every year, Dan, Darius, and I play a week in England at a famous club "Ronnie Scott's." It's a chance to play good music and just hang out as brothers."

With so much travel, nationally and internationally, we wondered if Chris had a favorite area to tour. "We were recently in Upper New York State playing at The Lake George Jazz Festival and the trees were beginning to change color. It was beautiful. Earlier this year the Brubeck Brothers Quartet performed for a week in Switzerland which was a wonderful experience. A few years ago we did a tour of Russia and worked with the Russian National Orchestra, playing in some of Russia's famed halls like Moscow's Tchaikovsky Hall. It was fantastic."

Chris told us about some of the impressive musicians that he has had the pleasure to work with. He has collaborated with violinists Regina Carter, Eileen Ivers, and Nadja Salerno-Sonenberg when he wrote "Interplay for 3 Violins and Orchestra" which featured the three violinists playing with The Boston Pops. He has also worked with Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Randy Brecker, and had an opportunity to jam with Willie Nelson. Chris toured extensively in his dad's groups for many years. He said the members of his father's original quartet were like honorary uncles. "I also grew up in the company of musical greats like BB King, Willie Nelson and Dizzy Gillespie. The list goes on and on."

It's not all about music for Chris Brubeck. He and his wife Tish like to travel, garden, and they have a large family that includes three grandchildren.

To learn more about Chris Brubeck, visit www.chrisbrubeck.com. To learn more about The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, visit www.brubeckbrothers.com and you can learn more about Hilary Kole at http://www.hilarykole.com

The Brubeck Brothers Quartet promises to be a musical treat for metropolitan area audiences. For more information on the two performances at NJPAC on November 6th, visit www.njpac.org.

Photo Credit: NJPAC

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