FILM
Darius Brubeck (1947) grew up in a very musical family and was encouraged by father Dave at an early age to compose music for piano and trumpet. Because all 4 Brubeck sons developed successful careers, Darius found it becoming ‘too busy’ in America and moved to South Africa. He founded Africa’s first university jazz course, at a time when South Africa was racially divided politically, culturally and socially. Black and white were not allowed to stand together on a stage. Brubeck and his training changed that.
You could say that Darius also learned that from his father. Old Dave once broke new ground when he was the first Western artist behind the Iron Curtain to showcase forbidden jazz music in the late 1950s. Little Darius was there in Poland at the time.
Director Michiel ten Kleij followed the jazz pianist all over the world for five years. The film uses beautiful archive footage to show the similarities between father and son Brubeck, in music, politics and in their personal lives.
INTERVIEW
After the Dutch premiere of ‘Playing The Changes’ presentor Jeroen Overbeek (national TV) will do a live interview with director Michiel ten Kleij and Darius Brubeck himself.
CONCERT
The film and interview will be followed by a full concert by The Darius Brubeck Quartet, consisting of Dave O’Higgins (saxophone), Matt Ridley (bass), Wesley Gibbens (drums) and Darius himself. The group, which has been playing together for more than 15 years, is based in London. The quartet’s ‘Live in Poland’ was voted the best jazz album of 2020 by Downbeat magazine.