Take Five – Reflections on Dave Brubeck

Recently I was watching an interview with jazz great Dave Brubeck. He is now deep into his 80ies and still playing. The story of many jazz musicians is that they die young, have huge addictions to cocaine and other drugs, and leave a trail of broken relationships. Many of the biographies, such as Charlie Parker, Billy Strayhorn, Stan Getz, and others, are simply tragic stories of talented people dying way before their time. So, as I looked at this old man and his wife of nearly 60 years, I saw this picture of someone who not only loved music and continues to love it and perform, but also someone who made the right choices in a world of dark joints and surrounded by a world of shady people. So, here we have his wonderful wife, six children, and a whole trail of a person who created great music and stands as an inspiration to all of us on a personal level.

What I also find interesting is that in 1980 he became a Catholic. He claims he was “nothing” before that, but it was perhaps the invitation to write a jazz mass entitled “To Hope” that brought him into his deep encounter with the Christian faith. I could tell from the interview that when it came to his faith, he knew what he was talking about. This is not a person who joins anything easily, without thorough examination. To hear him talk about the Eucharist and receiving bread and wine with joy almost caused my mouth to fly open with astonishment.

Dave Brubeck is about hopeful music. He sees music as enriching, but religious music as transforming. Every time he sees a church, he wonders if the music is hopeful and uplifting. I guess going to church is like “taking five”, a few minutes of your week for inspiration.