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Arts & Entertainment

The Show Must Go On: Dave Brubeck's 90th Birthday Concert

The jazz legend has been cancelling gigs due to health problems, but will still play at the Music Hall on Oct. 29.

Dave Brubeck, legendary jazz pianist, is used to being celebrated. From getting his picture on the cover of Time magazine in 1954 and selling a million copies of his quartet's 1959 Time Out album, more recently he's been presented with the National Medal of the Arts by President Clinton, designated a National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master, and honored by President Obama at the Kennedy Center – just to name a few.

Here in Tarrytown, we'll soon enjoy some Brubeck-festivities of our own when he performs a special 90th birthday concert at the Music Hall on October 29, presented by Dobbs Ferry not-for-profit Jazz Forum Arts.

For Lionel Hampton's 85th birthday celebration at the Music Hall, Jazz Forum Arts' Executive Director Mark Morganelli (a jazz trumpeter himself), came onstage with a cake with 85 candles. But 90 candles, he said, might be pushing it. For Brubeck's upcoming nonagenarian birthday celebration, Morganelli is considering having just "a nine and zero."

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Brubeck playing here is nothing new, but each time is certainly a unique treat. "Every concert is completely different, which is a great thing about jazz," Morganelli  said. 

Shortly after inaugurating the Jazz at the Music Hall series in Tarrytown 17 years ago, Morganelli decided to approach Brubeck for a show. Brubeck and his own quartet have been playing to nearly sold-out crowds, often twice a night, ever since. "It's become my annual Dave Brubeck gig which I do not take for granted," Morganelli said.

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Usually, Brubeck plays here in the spring, but this year the show was slated for October to fall closer to his December 6 birthday. Only a few weeks ago, the show was on rocky ground.

Morganelli  received a phone call from Brubeck's agent ("no spring chicken himself," he said) with some bad news: Brubeck had fainted several times in his longtime Wilton, Connecticut home and his doctor was prohibiting him from doing any engagements. "I was flipping out," Morganelli said.

Another call came soon: Brubeck would be back on track towards the end of the month. The show would go on. Not only that, but he would be rescheduling any shows he had missed in the meantime.

Brubeck may not be traveling far these days or doing interviews – we were unable to reach him for an interview – but he clearly wants to play on.

"You can tell he absolutely loves it, because he certainly does not have to do this at this age," Morganelli said.

This love for music comes across during his performances. Andy Bart, owner of the Elegant Poster in Dobbs Ferry, described it best: "He looks like this old Jewish guy shuffling onstage, measuring carpet, until he hits the piano and is transformed into this teenager."

"Dave Brubeck is one of the world's most renowned jazz musicians, of course. Ninety years old and still touring," marvelled Music Hall Executive Director, Björn Olsson.

As far as Morganelli is concerned, the older the better. "The joke in jazz is when you say 'retire', retire to what? It's like a fine wine – better with age."

For more information or to book tickets, please visit Tarrytown Music Hall.org.

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