Breaking the Mold
Jazz music in the 1950’s typically consisted of smooth, melodic lines, and compositions in 4/4, and in some cases, 3/4 rhythm, which made it easy for listeners to dance along to, therefore boosting the popularity of the particular band. Dave Brubeck went against this commonality, and created music that he enjoyed playing, rather than composing songs that fit into the standardized “jazz mold.” This decade introduced some immensely talented jazz musicians with the innovative Miles Davis, jazz orchestra bandleader Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker with his improvisational skills, and the “Maharaja of the keyboard,” Oscar Peterson. Although Brubeck’s musicianship may not have been as good as these jazz legends, he used their music to influence his own compositions; his creativeness and…