Dave Brubeck, who died on December 5th 2012, a day before his 92nd birthday, was warmly remembered in a wonderful celebration of his amazing life at a tribute in New York on the 11th of May. At the Cathedral of St. John The Divine, New York, more than 2,000 people watched performances from many jazz greats including Chick Corea, Branford Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Hilary Kole, Roberta Gambarini, Bill Charlap and Randy Brecker. Dave’s sons Darius, Chris, Dan and Matthew also performed as did Eugene Wright, the last surviving member of the classic Brubeck quartet, who challenged the racial segregation of the 1950’s.
The audience was also treated to a sneak preview of Tony Bennett and Brubeck performing the standard “There Will Never Be Another You” from a recently discovered ‘lost tape’ of a 1962 White House-sponsored concert. Bennett said that on those few occasions he performed with Brubeck, “it was always spontaneous, always unexpected and never to be forgotten.”
George Wein, the Newport Jazz Festival founder who had close ties with the Brubecks, closed the tribute by noting that Brubeck “had respect for everyone” and thanked Iola Brubeck for giving her husband “the support, love and strength that every great man needs.”
