The Brubeck Collection

The Brubeck Collection Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Brubeck Collection, Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton, CT.

The Brubeck Collection at Wilton Library in Wilton, CT, was established by late jazz legend Dave Brubeck and his wife, Iola, as a "living archive" of Dave’s career as a celebrated musician and composer.

On this day in 1977, the world lost one of jazz's most unique voices with the passing of Paul Desmond (1924-1977). In ho...
05/30/2026

On this day in 1977, the world lost one of jazz's most unique voices with the passing of Paul Desmond (1924-1977).

In honor of Paul's memory, read this heartfelt poem written as a tribute to his legacy by Dave Brubeck's son, Michael.

📄 Dave Brubeck Quartet Newsletter (Summer/Fall 2005) (1.1D.05 v.23)

Happy birthday to "The Senator," jazz bassist Eugene Wright! (1923-2020) Eugene Wright joined The Dave Brubeck Quartet i...
05/29/2026

Happy birthday to "The Senator," jazz bassist Eugene Wright! (1923-2020)

Eugene Wright joined The Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1958 and was a vital member of the rhythm section of the "Classic Quartet" until the group disbanded in 1967. Wright performed with Dave off and on for many years afterwards, including the famous 1988 Joint State Dinner organized by President Reagan and Secretary Gorbachev in Moscow.

Throughout his career, Gene Wright performed with some of the world’s best jazz musicians including Count Basie, Erroll Garner, Red Norvo, Gene Ammons, Kenny Drew, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Cal Tjader, Vince Guaraldi, Sonny Stitt, and Carmen McRae. He also served as head of the Jazz Department at the University of Cincinnati and was head of the advisory board in the jazz division of the International Society of Bassists.

📸 Eugene Wright with bass and bow, 1959 (DBP.59.074)

In May 1968, Dave Brubeck went on his first major tour following the end of his "classic" quartet in December 1967. Arra...
05/23/2026

In May 1968, Dave Brubeck went on his first major tour following the end of his "classic" quartet in December 1967. Arranged by George Wein, the tour featured the debut of Brubeck's new group including Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax), Alan Dawson (drums), and Jack Six (bass).

The first half of the tour took them throughout the U.S. South, while the second half included appearances throughout Mexico. As part of Mexico's yearlong coordination of arts and cultural events in celebration of their role hosting the 1968 Olympics, George Wein organized additional Newport Jazz Festival events throughout the country with headliners including the Dave Brubeck Quartet with Gerry Mulligan, the Cannonball Adderley Quintet, and the Herbie Mann Quintet.

Recordings from this tour can be heard on Brubeck's live album, "Compadres" (1968).

📸 1. Dave Brubeck with Jack Six, Alan Dawson and Gerry Mulligan in studio for Blues Roots, 1968 (DBP.68.071)
📄 2. "Dave Brubeck trio debuts with Mulligan on May Tour," Amusement Business Magazine, May 11, 1968 (1.1E.01b.013aa)
3. John S. Wilson, "A Natural Musical Marriage," New York Times, October 20, 1968 (1.1E.03b.006ggg)
4-5. "Newport Jazz Festival" program, May 29, 1968 (Acapulco, Mexico) (1.1F.03.001i)

05/14/2026

Happy birthday to jazz bassist and composer, Alec Dankworth! 🎉

The son of jazz legends Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, Alec Dankworth played with the Dave Brubeck Quartet from the late 1990s to the early 2000s both on tours and on albums including 40th Anniversary Tour of the U.K. (1998), The Crossing (2000), and Dave Brubeck: Live with the LSO (2000). Throughout his career, Dankworth has played with jazz icons including Stéphane Grappelli, Abdullah Ibrahim, Mose Allison, Marian McPartland, George Shearing, Van Morrison, and many more!

🎥 The Dave Brubeck Quartet - "Oh You Can Run (But You Can't Hide)" (Jazz À Juan Festival, Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, France, July 22, 1999)

Dave Brubeck - Piano
Bobby Militello - Alto Sax
Alec Dankworth - Bass
Randy Jones - Drums

05/04/2026

Happy Dave Brubeck Day! 🎹🎷

Celebrated annually on May 4th, the day (5/4) refers to the time signature of The Dave Brubeck Quartet's most well-known song, "Take Five." Written by Paul Desmond, "Take Five" was the first jazz single to sell one million copies and remains among the top-selling jazz recordings of all time.

To celebrate, please enjoy this rare video from the Brubeck Collection archives!

🎥 The Dave Brubeck Quartet - "Take Five" ('Playboy's Penthouse,' Chicago, IL, Broadcast Date: October 16, 1960)

Dave Brubeck - Piano
Paul Desmond - Alto Sax
Joe Morello - Drums
Eugene Wright - Bass

Happy International Jazz Day! 🎶On this very special day for jazz music, we'd like to officially announce the first annua...
04/30/2026

Happy International Jazz Day! 🎶

On this very special day for jazz music, we'd like to officially announce the first annual Wilton Jazz Fest! 🎹🎷

Please join us for this free event on Friday, August 28th at Wilton Library Association and Saturday, August 29th at Schenck's Island in Wilton, Connecticut. More details coming soon!

04/27/2026

Happy National Preservation Week! Observed annually during the last week in April by the American Library Association, Preservation Week "inspires action to preserve personal, family, and community collections in addition to library, museum, and archive collections."

The Brubeck Collection at Wilton Library Association contains a lifetime's worth of materials accumulated by Dave Brubeck and his family of musicians and artists. With materials dating all the way back to the late 1800s, we aim to keep these materials preserved for generations to come.

In this video, we demonstrate how to browse through our digitized photos of Dave Brubeck's life and career by decade. We're always digitizing more items from the archive, so be sure to keep checking in to see what's newly available online!

💻 www.brubeckcollection.org

🎧 The Dave Brubeck Quartet - "One Moment Worth Years" (Blue Note, Chicago, IL, March 23, 1956)

Address

137 Old Ridgefield Road
Wilton, CT
06897

Website

https://www.brubeckcollection.org/

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