Sometimes, certain stories merit a second look. Last June, we took a look at the underreported and underappreciated Bucks County jazz scene. And while Chris Brubeck, son of the legendary Dave Brubeck, crosses genres, his appearance in Doylestown this month warrants another look. -Ed
When Chris Brubeck refers to the members of his band as triple threats, it’s not merely a nod to their name nor is it an exaggeration. Collectively known as Triple Play, the eclectic trio, featuring Brubeck, Peter Madcat Ruth and Joel Brown, transcends genres, borrowing elements from the blues, rock ‘n’ roll, folk and jazz. On March 27, Triple Play will bring their amalgam of talents to Delaware Valley College, when they share the stage with the Bucks County Symphony at the annual Pops Concert.
Chris looks forward to a mix of both entertaining and serious arrangements. In an homage to his legendary father, jazz great Dave Brubeck, the group will perform their own take on “Take 5,” as well as a new arrangement of “Blue Rondo a la Turk” the group recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Other songs include “Un-Square Dance,” an instrumental classic that Chris penned lyrics to, “Bach to Brubeck” and the Triple Play original, “Mighty Mrs. Hippy.”
“We’re too bluesy for a jazz festival and too jazzy for a blues festival,” Chris says, who credits the talents of his counterparts for differentiating their group from the pack. “Yet somehow, all these elements come together.”
Triple Play’s Bucks County performance is one of about 40 international engagements the group takes on every year, but it’s far from Brubeck’s only commitment. He’s also a member of the straight-jazz Brubeck Brothers Quartet, which, contrary to its name, only includes one other blood-related brother in its lineup – Dan on drums – and also performs and tours with his father and actual brothers, Darius, Matthew and Dan. His performance schedule affords Chris, a prolific composer, a break from constant writing and arranging. “Between me always writing these new pieces, it’s a relief to have the fun of working with these groups,” he says. “I love the spirituality when the music plays and the audience enjoys it.”
Composing also gives him a chance to spend more time with his family and maintain a level of normalcy, he admits, was hard to come by growing up in the Brubeck clan. “It’s not a completely normal life,” he says. “It’s like a circus family at times.” As the son of a veritable jazz icon, Chris enjoyed an early introduction to the music business. As a toddler, he recalls crawling under his father’s piano during rehearsals and later attending concerts that drew thousands of delighted spectators. “I said, ‘Hmm, this seems like a great way to make a living,” Chris recalls. “Make music, make people happy and you’re happy too.”
And music is hardly in short supply for Chris. In 1982, he began writing arrangements for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, London Symphony and Atlanta Symphony, as well as charts for Dave’s group. Today, his arrangements remain in demand. He also writes for the string trio Time for Three, the Boston Pops and even composed a trumpet concerto for the Czech Republic’s National Symphony Orchestra in Prague. He even finds time to collaborate with his father. Their most recent piece, “Ansel Adams: America,” will be performed later this month by the Temple University Orchestra at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. “A composer always wants the next thing to do,” Chris says. “I’m a very, very busy person but also a very lucky person.”
This past December, Brubeck took the stage with his brothers to serenade their father In Washington, DC at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Singing “Blue Rondo a la Turk” and “Happy Birthday,” the family marked two momentous occasions: honoring Dave for a lifetime of musical achievement and celebrating his 89th birthday. “My father had no idea we were going to be there,” Chris says. “It was a great moment. We’re still trying to get dad to slow down.”
Even with all his projects, Triple Play hardly takes a backseat. With two recordings under their belt, Brubeck is planning a combination DVD and CD of the group’s recent performance with the Singapore Orchestra. He’s also looking forward to “limbering up” with Ruth and Brown at upcoming tour dates. “We forget how fun it is to play together, and I have total faith that the magic comes back every time,” he says. “It all flows together in a way that makes you happy that you’re there and celebrating music in this way. Music is one of the pure places left where you can have a sense of community with people.”
Go Online at www.chrisbrubeckstripleplay.com
www.buckscountysymphony.org