RSO Tribute to Legendary Pianist and Composer, Dave Brubeck

TRIBUTE – Classical, Jazz, Legendary!

Join the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, December 7, 2019 as the orchestra presents a tribute to Dave Brubeck - legendary American pianist and composer.

The concert, the second in our season entitled American: An Exploration Through Music, helps kick off the Dave Brubeck Centennial – celebrating what would have been Brubeck’s 100^th birthday in 2020. A beautiful classical piece written by Brubeck called “Joy in the Morning” opens the program, followed by marvelous jazz selections performed by the orchestra with special guest artists the Brubeck Brothers Quartet. Two of the selections, “Blue Rondo a la Turk”, written by Dave Brubeck, and “Take Five”, first recorded by his quartet, are iconic jazz pieces.

The Brubeck Brothers Quartet features bassist and trombonist Chris Brubeck, drummer Dan Brubeck, guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb. “We are absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Chris and his quartet, and be the first orchestra to help commemorate what will be a multi-year celebration of Dave Brubeck and his music” says Laurie Kenagy, Executive Director of the RSO.

Along with the tribute to Dave Brubeck, the orchestra will also perform Symphony No. 2 “Song of a New Race” by William Grant Still. Still was a legendary American composer in his own right, publishing more than 150 works, including five symphonies and eight operas, and is often referred to as “the Dean” of African-American composers. Still was the first African-American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra, the first to have an opera performed by a major opera company, and the first to have an opera performed on national television.

The RSO’s December 7^th concert is at 8:00 PM at Richardson Auditorium at Ridgefield High School. There will be a lively and engaging pre-concert talk with Chris Brubeck and RSO Music Director Yuga Cohler at 7:00 PM in the auditorium prior to the concert. Tickets are available online at ridgefieldsymphony.org or by phone at 203.438.3889.