Dave Brubeck

When accompanying one of his bandmate’s solos, jazz great Dave Brubeck often flashed a wide smile that perfectly captured his warmth, sincerity and sense of mischief—traits he embodied throughout his enormously successful career. Born and raised in Northern California, Brubeck served in World War II, forming one of the military’s first racially integrated bands. His career began in earnest after the war, and his compositions were typically marked with complex musical concepts—polyrhythms, polytonality and non-4/4 time signatures—yet his music was always accessible (as heard on “Blue Rondo a la Turk” and “In Your Own Sweet Way”). His quartets from 1951 to 1967 with alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, who authored the massive hit “Take Five” with generous input from his boss, were immensely popular. Time Out, from 1959, is one of the best-selling jazz albums ever. Later, Brubeck’s pioneering, measured style defined the swinging sound of West Coast jazz in the ’60s and ’70s.