© Copyright ® Steven Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.
While he has been the subject of some full-length biographies, notably by Fred Hall and Philip Clark, this is the first anthology of writings about Dave Brubeck [1920-2012] whose career in Jazz spanned six decades
With an Introduction, Prologue/Epilogue, 36 chapters of articles, interviews and commentaries - some of which are very rare - and a discography and bibliography totaling 364 pages, this is the only compilation of its kind.
Volume 1 covers the period from the formation of the Dave Brubeck Octet in 1948 to the last performances by the Dave Brubeck Trio featuring baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan in 1972.
A second volume is in preparation and will include articles and interviews about Dave’s groups with his sons, his extended choral and symphonic works and the second “classic quartet” featuring Bobby Militello, Alec Dankworth and Randy Jones.
Included in the list of contributing authors for the first volume are Gene Lees, Doug Ramsey, Ralph J. Gleason, Leonard Feather and Gary Giddins.
With everyone so busy these days, most of the chapters can be read in 15-20 minutes.
Now that the initial costs of publication for the series have been met, 50% of all royalties will be donated to the local high school and community college district to help purchase musical instruments for individual students. I have also donated $500 to the Gerry and Franca Mulligan Foundation and a full drum kit to the Jazz big band at local community college from the proceeds.
Each volume is available as a paperback for $24.99, an audio book for $14.99 and an eBook for $9.99 exclusively at Amazon.com. Just enter my name in the search box under “Books.”
You can locate the Table of Contents for this and each of the other volumes in the series [so far 17 in all] by scrolling the sidebar [right hand column] of my blog at JazzProfiles.blogspot.com/
Thank you for your support.
Winner of the 2025 Jazz Journalist Association Special Citation for Historic Writings, Steven Cerra is a professional Jazz drummer and the author of anthologies on Gerry Mulligan, Bill Evans, Stan Kenton, Dave Brubeck, Shelly Manne, Jazz West Coast Readers Vols. 1-3, Profiles in Jazz, Vol.1, Jazz Drummers Vols. 1-2, Jazz Saxophonists, Vol. 1, 2 & 3, and Jazz Piano, Vols. 1, 2 & 3. He also hosts the jazzprofiles.blogspot and cerra.substack blogs.
