Negativland's founding duo were born and raised in Concord, California whose other famous natives include actors Tom Hanks and Mark Hamill and one of the leaders of the school of West Coast jazz, pianist Dave Brubeck. Young Dave took lessons from his mother, as did his siblings, but he could not read music. Less the matter since he had no interest of pursuing music anyhow. He originally intended to work with his father on the cattle farm and attended College of the Pacific to study up. As it happens, his mind was clearly in the conservatory across the way and not in his studies, and his professors encouraged him to transfer to the music school.
Brubeck was drafted into the military where his piano skills allowed him to avoid combat service. Instead, he led the US Armed Forces' first racially integrated band "The Wolfpack". After his service, he returned to school, this time studying at Mills College under composer Darius Milhaud and, for a short time, under Arnold Schoenberg. After graduating with his masters, he performed and recorded with an octet and a trio. Dave led both groups as he was the performer with the most recognizable name. The Dave Brubeck trio issued its recordings first on fantasy records and featured Ron Crotty on bass and Cal Tjader on drums, the vibraphone, and the bongos. Their first album was a collection of Fantasy singles released as Dave Brubeck Trio Featuring Cal Tjader in 1950. The jazz was good and sold well. The album also features probably my favorite album cover of all time. I gotta know who painted that masterpiece, buy it, frame it, and smile every day.
Here is the discography surrounding The Dave Brubeck Trio's debut album:
You Stepped Out of a Dream (1950 single)
Singin' in the Rain (1950 single)
Body and Soul (1950 single)
Indiana (1950 single)
Blue Moon (1950 single)
Undecided (1950 single)
Dave Brubeck Trio Featuring Cal Tjader
"I'll Remember April" by The Dave Brubeck Trio
Pass the Headphones!!
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