Documentary film and Milken Archive videos celebrate Brubeck’s life and work.

December 6, 2010 marks the 90th birthday of Dave Brubeck. One of contemporary jazz music’s most beloved figures, Brubeck has been a pioneer in combining jazz with symphony orchestra and large choral forces. Performing worldwide and creating new compositions even now, Brubeck’s contributions as both a performer and composer continue to inspire audiences of all ages and influence generations of jazz musicians.

Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way
New Documentary airs December 6, 5 pm (EST) on Turner Classic Movies.

Produced by Clint Eastwood, this documentary chronicles Brubeck's life, from his early musical training to his study with the legendary Darius Milhaud, to his creation of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, featuring Paul Desmond. Featuring exclusive Milken Archive footage, Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way highlights the impact of Brubeck’s introduction of new time signatures in jazz, such as on the groundbreaking 1959 album “Time Out.”

Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way features interviews with George Lucas, Sting, Bill Cosby, Jamie Cullum, David Benoit and Yo-Yo Ma. The documentary includes archival footage from the Milken Archive; vintage performances from the Newport Jazz Festival and the Monterey Jazz Festival; a never-before-seen interview with Dave Brubeck and Walter Cronkite; and there are also personal interviews filmed for the documentary with Dave and Iola Brubeck. Read more about Dave Brubeck: In his Own Sweet Way.

Exclusive Video Premiere of Brubeck Quartet in Concert

To honor his life and work, the Milken Archive will present over the coming months exclusive live concert videos of The Dave Brubeck Quartet performing some of its greatest hits. In the first two videos, now available, Dave and the Quartet swing with the classic “St. Louis Blues” and also perform “Theme for June” composed by Dave’s brother Howard Brubeck.

For more on Dave Brubeck, visit his Milken Archive profile page. If you would like to receive updates about these and other exclusive videos, please sign-up for our email list.