Chris Brubeck

Chris Brubeck may be best known to the casual jazz fan for his long tenure (1978-1988) as the bassist in the Dave Brubeck Quartet, but he has done much more. He studied piano formally prior to learning trombone while in junior high school and also taught himself electric bass. He is a self-taught orchestrator as well. In addition to working with Dave Brubeck and brothers Dan and Darius in Two Generations of Brubeck (later called the New Brubeck Quartet), Chris was a part of the rock groups Sky King and New Heavenly Blue, recorded two records with Larry Coryell (along with Dan and Darius), made a trio LP with Andy LaVerne (joined by Dan), and recorded and toured extensively with folk singer/banjo player Bill Crofut up until his death in 1999. Following Crofut's death, Chris Brubeck started two new bands, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, which he co-leads with Dan Brubeck, and Triple Play, with guitarist Joel Brown and harmonica player Peter "Madcat" Ruth. Chris Brubeck has become a noteworthy composer and arranger, having written off-Broadway musicals, choral works, and a concerto for bass trombone and orchestra. He has blossomed as a lyricist, too, composing a number of first-rate original ballads (including "Now That the Children Are Gone," "Across Your Dreams," and the lovely but bittersweet "The Distance Between Us") and amusing lyrics to some of his father's most rhythmically challenging pieces like "Unsquare Dance," "Blue Rondo a la Turk," and "Polly." His love of many genres of music in addition to jazz is consistently demonstrated during concerts and recordings under his name.