Thomas Kelly and Ran Roatta of the Brubeck Institute Fellow Quintet play during the 2013 Brubeck Festival
No rain and warm spring weather greeted our arrival at University of the Pacific to take in some jazz organized by the Brubeck Institute on campus. With the passing of Dave Brubeck and my son’s blossoming interest in jazz saxophone, we made the short drive to Stockton to take in the free Saturday Jazz on the Green and then catch the last show of the Brubeck Festival featuring the Brubeck Brothers.
I was a little surprised at the light turn out for Jazz on the Green considering the nice weather,
Children’s activities of mask making were available.
comfortable park setting and local jazz talent. There were lots of events for children (create a mardi gras mask and try out a trumpet or trombone), tours of the recently donated Dave Brubeck archives to UOP in the library and great tunes from locals schools. But the very mainstream jazz music just didn’t bring out the crowds.
UOP Tiger mascot stopped by to say hi to the kids and adults.
It could have been that most people were still recovering from the Winton Marsalis show at the Bob Hope Theater the previous evening. With the Brubeck Institute firmly rooted at UOP and his archives on display at the library, the Brubeck Jazz Festival looks to be bringing serious musician talent to the Stockton area for years to come.
The concert we saw was titled The Brubeck Tribute Concert and featured the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet accompanying the San
A young woman gets her first try at playing a trumpet at the Brubeck Jazz Festival
Francisco Choral Artists and the Brubeck Brothers Quartet. The Quintet and Choral team performed several of Brubeck pieces of his sacred music. One pieces was actually commissioned by Sacramento’s Church of the Blessed Sacrament for unveiling of their renovation in 1983.
Mr. Mime was on hand to entertain in between bands.
The Brubeck Brothers (Chris Brubeck on bass and trombone, Dan Brubeck on drums, Mike DeMicco on guitar and Chuck Lamb on piano) performed a variety of Dave Brubeck’s works from throughout his career. All their songs were from their recently released LifeTimes which was a tribute to Dave Brubeck and all he taught them over the years. It was a solid evening of pure jazz of the highest caliber that I have ever heard live.
