Dave Brubeck (R.I.P.)

Dave Brubeck has passed away at the age of 91 years. His music was very important to me during my formative years. One of my early vinyl purchases was a 10 inch red Fantasy recording of the Brubeck Octet. I return often to his creative music - Jazz Goes to College, Jazz at Oberlin and College of the Pacific. "Balcony Rock", "These Foolish Things", and "All the Things You Are" still knock me out. Brubeck was both a creative music innovator and a decent human being. Mingus admired his music. Miles made disparaging remarks about his music, but managed to record Brubeck's "The Duke".
  Guardian obituary:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/dec/05/dave-brubeck

Taylor Ho Bynum New Yorker tribute:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2012/12/the-brilliance-of-dave-brubeck.html