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Join Elizabeth Galvan, Brin Neal and David Brubeck in a live performance of Brubeck’s arrangement of Chick’s classic tune for two brass and pandeiro.

Click on your favorite Beatle for a special treat!

John

Paul

George, In Progress

Ringo is in everything we do, everybody loves Ringo, In Progress..

We love brass instruments! and WHY NOT a brass duo? Here we are in LIVE Recital courtesy of Bronwen Rutter! https://vimeo.com/851061049

Perhaps from a recording LIVE at the Biltmore Hotel

Remember the Large Brass Ensemble of Phillip Jones or even the great recordings featuring symphonic brass from several orchestras? Founded and led by Brian Neal-Trumpet, and later assistant directed by David Brubeck-Bass Trombone, Brass Miami was set in the large brass ensemble mold. This group featured Brubeck Neal Duo at the center with another core of players from the Naples Philharmonic often including Matthew Sonneborn on Trumpet and Aaron McAlla on Tuba plus another core of once and future quintet greats: Marc Reese of the Empire Brass and Domingo Pagliuca and Jose Sibaja of the Boston Brass. The brass octet of 4 trumpets and 3 trombones with tuba and percussion was then completed with talented locals from Miami and Naples- I remember John Kricker, David Dash, Mike Zion and Jeff Kaye.

I received a CD marked best takes YEARS ago, and have FINALLY narrowed it down. We hope that this evokes good memories, brings you joy and lightens your day!.

This is LIVE!

This is the recording

Track 1….

Track 2

Track 3

Track 4

Track 5

Track 6

c. 2023 David William Brubeck All Rights Reserved

As a Junior College Professor, I do not have graduate assistants, though many undergrads and former students come in and help me out from time to time. Special thanks to Adrian Gutierrez, Jr.

One of the most vital forces in the history of humanity. Bethoven was born and raised in Bonn Germany before locals sponsored his trip to Vienna-the rest is history. A brilliant piano soloist, chamber musician and composer, Beethoven’s music stands as a testament to the human spirit.

photo courtesy of onepeterfive.com

“Two Part Invention” for Brass Duo LIVE!

Once you have heard it for brass, you may never go back to keyboard. Or maybe you will, you could you know! What a great piece!

Ben Shaposhnikov, our frequent first and second trumpet player over the past two seasons of the Brubeck Brass, has accepted a position with the Jacksonville Symphony playing third trumpet alongside fellow Brubeck Brass alum Kevin Karabell, on principal trumpet. Ben is a warm and cheerful human being who loves music and grew up on Long Island, NY. I remember the morning when we were playing and his sound began to fill the huge cathedral type building we were in. Oddly enough, it reminded me a bit of Kevin. Ben, we will miss you but know you are near and in a wonderful setting surrounded by many fne and kind musicians. Best wishes.

Whenever Ben was playing second, it was probably because Morgen Low was playing first. Morgen is a Northwestern University alum from Michigan and has resided in Miami Beach where she has been a New World Symphony Fellow under the auspices of Michael Tilson Thomas and his great team of musicians. Morgen was selected to teach at the prestigious Interlochen Academy, regarded by many a the premiere National Summer Music Festival. Congratulations to Morgen who is extremely dedicated, kind and one of the most conscientious musicians I know. Another feather in her cap came recently when she was asked to substitute with the amazing Seraph Brass Quintet. One catch-she took the place of the group’s leader and principal trumpet, Mary Bowden. WOW Morgen! We congratulate you on your many accomplishments and your continued excellence. We are grateful to have you with us!

Morgan and Ben join a growing list of fantastic trumpet alumni from the Brubeck Brass, included Luca Farina, Principal Trumpet of the Sarasota Symphony, Kevin Karabell as note is Principal Trumpet with the Jacksonville Symphony, Federico Montes Associate Principal Trumpet of the Omaha Symphony, Alex Razamanouv accepted a full scholarship to the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and Aaron Ney is in one of the top Military Bands in Washington DC.

“Best Practices“?

Who could resist sharing “best practices”? To an egotist or a narcissist “best practices” make perfect sense. “Let me tell you how great I am, and how I do it!”

To the manipulative administrator “best practices” are nearly perfect! After all, if one can get employees to give best practices, then must they not receive them as well? Receive them indeed, and once received who now is able to say that the “best practices” can be denied?

Hey, maybe we can evaluate YOU on whether or not you are using the “best practices”!

SEZ WHO?

“Says Who”, Donny McCaslin

I like tips. A “tip” is more humble. You can take or leave a “tip”. We have all received good ones and bad ones. No one could be blamed for not trying a tip, or not using it more than once if they did not like it.

But  “best practices”?  Who is to say they truly are best? And best for whom? How can they be best for those in completely different fields? How can they be best for those with completely different situations and resources?

Humans who are sensitive, creative, perceptive, reflective, knowledgeable, pioneering or expert often create new paths, new ways and (gasp), even new knowledge…

These original thinkers often publish their best ideas and new ways of doing things through journals, websites, magazines and the like. Many of these ideas are then subject to the scrutiny and feedback of peers, experts, editors and publishers. Original thinkers publish; they perform; they present.

These original thinkers generate many of their own ideas. They may even sign them. Often times, they might copyright them. They can even OWN them.

Who owns a “best practice”? Who wrote it? Who reviewed it now that it has been gleaned from another?

COMPARED TO WHAT?

“Compared to what?”, Ray Charles & Leela James

Someone needs to take credit for eliciting “best practices”, listing them, assigning them, holding people accountable.  Sounds like “best practices” could be a great way for non-creative people to leach and glean ideas from others and take credit for them.

Could adherence to”best practices” lead to conformity, group-think, and getting everyone to do it the same way? How can you ignore a “best practice”? Is your new idea a “best practice”? Does everyone have to use it now? Does your conscience coincide with the established “best practices”?

One cannot imagine asking these questions about a tip, or even a guideline.   A tip is informal, and efficient. It can easily be exchanged.  Guidelines, by contrast, seem almost polite and encouraging compared to “best practices”. Guidelines are more akin to an invitation for creative development and customization. “Start here, cover this, but you can go your own way”, the guideline seems to confide.

A “best practice” is starting to seem like a pushy tip!

“Best practices” seems to stifle thinking. Why think? THIS IS the BEST way. TRUST US. Just follow these. DON’T get used to THINKing FOR YOURSELF. Just do it.

Without stretching too far, one can imagine a kind-hearted young teacher, creatively assessing and addressing the needs of her beloved students.  Later, we find her  sobbing in a meeting with the nurse-Ratched-type lead-teacher of the ten teachers in her grade level, insisting the young teacher do it the “Ratched” way!

Can a best practice be targeted? Perhaps a thought for another day, but then again, maybe thinking for yourself is no longer a “best practice”.

PS

Whatever happened to suggestions?

c. 2022 David William Brubeck

All Rights Reserved.

As a young man, I was blessed to have been offered a tenure track job teaching music in higher education before I even graduated from the University of Miami. Opportunities that came after the tenure track, just could not be automatically accepted. I remember when my friend Ray, a trumpet player with the band, called about an opening in the Ray Charles, and that I was under strong consideration. Since I had taken a job, I had to decline, but was honored. Ray Charles is one of the most inventive singers, band leaders, showmen, and entrepreneurs in the history of Jazz, and a vital force on keyboard and saxophone. Many of the musicians and singers that performed with Ray Charles are legends in their own right!

Purchase the DVD on Ebay.

Sometimes, God gives second (and third and fourth…), chances. He has promised those who seek him to guide their footsteps and provide the desires of their heart. I always wished that I could have joined Ray’s Band and when Frank Sinatra’s contractor, Morty Bullman, retired to Miami, I got my chance.

With years of expertise hearing the best musicians New York City had to offer in addition to those attracted to Frank Sinatra during his recording years in LA, Morty had a way of assembling the grooviest band possible from the elite South Florida Musicians available-a considerable pool of expertise in its own right.

This is my favorite of the FIFTEEN tracks we performed live, video recorded and audio recorded with the man who brought the feel and vocal stylings of the sacred music of Black American Gospel to the rest of the World! “America the Beautiful”, was the finale, and my favorite. Barring any objections, I would have to say that Ray Charles may just be the finest musician with whom I have had the privilege of having been associated.

c. 2023 David William Brubeck All Rights Reserved

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