One hundred years ago he was born
And for over sixty years I have known him,
Known him through his music.
A man who brought jazz into my life,
Opened my life into a world.
A world of cool and bebop,
Of trad and modern.
So many styles
That started with that one tune,
Take Five played on the gramophone.
One of the many records
Played by my father.
Then came the day I saw him,
Saw him play.
This little wizened old man
Creeping slowly to his piano,
And the first notes were played
A web came out from those notes
That surrounded the audience
And pulled us into his music,
An evening I will never forget,
As the man that brought me into jazz
Played to me,
Taking me into his life.
A man I will never forget
And will forever play.
Brubeck lives on,
Lives on in my life.
Dave Brubeck: Born December 6, 1920 – Died December 5, 2012