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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.

06/22/2026

Happy Father's Day!

Known as a devoted father and family man throughout the jazz world, Dave Brubeck and his wife Iola had six children together: Darius, Michael, Chris, Catherine, Dan, and Matthew.

Dave's own father, Howard "Pete" Brubeck, was a cattle rancher who taught Dave how to be a cowboy throughout his childhood. Read this heartfelt letter written by Dave to his father about the life lessons he learned from his father.

📰 Dave Brubeck Quartet Newsletter (Winter/Spring 1990-91) (1.1D.05.009 v.8)

06/18/2026

Congratulations to all the hardworking students of the class of 2026! As graduates everywhere celebrate this month, let's examine this historic class photo taken nearly 100 years ago in June 1930.

This photo captures the humble beginnings of 9-year-old Dave Brubeck at Concord Grammar School in Concord, CA. Which number student do you think is 9-year-old Dave?

📸 Dave Brubeck with Concord school class, June 1930 (Concord, California) (DBP.30.001)

06/16/2026

"A belated shout-out to my oldest brother Darius who celebrated another birthday on June 14th.

"Darius has always been leading the way during many important junctures in my life. He taught me how to play guitar when I was about in 5th grade. That came in handy when he needed a bass player for some local teenage band gigs on Connecticut beaches and bars. As he explained, the bass notes are the same 4 notes as the bottom strings of the guitar only an octave lower. I had the function of a bass player already in my ears growing up hearing and admiring Eugene Wright. Darius launched me in that direction when we were both kids!

"Later on he enlisted me to play trombone in his ensembles with drummer brother Dan (younger than me) and fine musicians Darius’s age, like the now legendary tenor man Jerry Bergonzi. The brothers and our father went on to tour and record quite a bit in the 70s and then Darius began a new adventurous chapter in his life with his wife and manager Catherine Morphet Brubeck. She and Darius made an incredible contribution to jazz with their tireless work for jazz education and social justice through music in South Africa. Again we shared tours while breaking down barriers when it came to presenting in*******al musicians on stage together and for national audiences with television broadcasts.

"Playing together over half a century, touring England, writing for and recording with the London Symphony Orchestra, more recently working on LPs for Brubeck Editions all continue as I write today. He is held in high esteem in academic jazz circles for his contributions to learned publications. His and Cathy’s book “Playing The Changes” and the film documentary of the same title help chronicle their very meaningful career.

"I guess you could sum it up by saying I am extremely proud of my brother and look forward to saluting him for many birthdays to come."

~Chris Brubeck

📸 Courtesy of the Brubeck Collection at the Wilton Library

06/11/2026

On this day in 1961, Dave Brubeck received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, the College of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Dave graduated from the College of the Pacific in 1942 before enlisting in the U.S. Army later that year.

Recorded more than a decade later in December 1953, the Dave Brubeck Quartet's live album "Jazz at the College of the Pacific" went on to become a major turning point in Brubeck's career.

Initially enrolling as a veterinary sciences student in 1938, Dave later switched his major to pursue his true passion:

"Dr. John Arnold—then the head of zoology at the College of the Pacific, and something of an unsung hero in the Brubeck story—changed everything. His words, delivered to Dave during his second year as a kindly piece of advice—'Brubeck, your mind is not here. It’s across the lawn in the [music] conservatory. Please go there. Stop wasting my time and yours'—were both a wake-up call and told Brubeck what he already knew." ("Dave Brubeck: A Life in Time" by Philip Clark)

📸 1. Dr. Robert E. Burns, President of the University of the Pacific presenting Dave Brubeck an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, June 11, 1961 (Stockton, California) (DBP.61.024)
2. Brubeck family and dignitaries following Dave Brubeck's awarding of an honorary doctorate, June 11, 1961 (Stockton, California) (DBP.61.026)

06/06/2026

Check out Dave Brubeck featured in this iconic lineup of jazz legends from the archives!

📸 Framed photograph of Dave Brubeck with Eubie Blake, Herbie Mann, and Billy Taylor on Eubie Blake's wall, 1980s (DBP.8X.044a)

06/02/2026

From May 29th to June 2, 1988, U.S. President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev met in Moscow for a series of diplomatic meetings known as the Moscow Summit.

On May 31st, the Dave Brubeck Quartet represented the U.S. by performing for summit attendees at Spaso House, the residence of the U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union. The Quartet included Chris Brubeck, Eugene Wright, Bill Smith, and Randy Jones (watch performance video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5p5ilWGRSM)

In recognition of Dave Brubeck's diplomatic appearance, pianists Larissa Dedova and Mikhail Volchock recorded a duet version of Brubeck's composition, "They All Sang Yankee Doodle." This video was broadcast every day during the Summit on prime time before the news on CT-USSR Programme One.

🎥 1. Larissa Dedova and Mikhail Volchock playing "They All Sang Yankee Doodle" for USSR television program, 1988 (1.5C.01.001)
📸 2. Dave Brubeck shaking hands with Mikhail Gorbachev as Eugene Wright and Ronald Reagan watch, May 31, 1988 (Spaso House, Moscow, Russia) (DBP.88.015)
3. (L-R) Dave Brubeck, Bill Smith, Ronald Reagan, Chris Brubeck, Eugene Wright, and Randy Jones on stage, May 31, 1988 (Spaso House, Moscow, Russia)

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)

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)

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)

05/18/2026

In May 1964, the Dave Brubeck Quartet embarked on their first tour of Japan. The inspiration from their travels led to the creation of their acclaimed album, "Jazz Impressions of Japan."

"The tunes in this album are personal impressions from the Quartet's tour of Japan, Spring, 1964. No one in a brief visit can hope to absorb and comprehend all that is strange to him. Sights and sounds, exotic in their freshness, arouse the senses to a new awareness. The music we have prepared tries to convey these minute but lasting impressions, wherein the poet expects the reader to feel the scene himself as an experience. The poem only suggests the feeling." (Dave Brubeck, 'Jazz Impressions of Japan' liner notes)

📸 The Dave Brubeck Quartet wearing kimonos, May 1964 (L-R: Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright, Joe Morello, Paul Desmond) (Tokyo, Japan) (DBP.64.092)

Address

137 Old Ridgefield Road
Wilton, CT
06897

Website

https://www.wiltonlibrary.org/, https://www.brubeckcollection.org/

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