Dave Brubeck: Early Concepts

"Dave['s] studies at Mills College were interrupted by his army service. He was called up in 1944 and he initially obtained permission to continue his composition studies while in uniform. His teacher was Arnold Schoenberg. Brubeck recalled 'We didn't get along at all. It's completely misquoted that I studied with him. The first lesson was an introductory affair, and the second lesson I had written something, and he wanted a reason for every note. I said 'Because it sounds good', and he said, 'That is not an adequate reason,' and we got into a huge argument in which he was screaming at me. And I asked him why did he think he was the man who should determine the new music, and he screamed, 'Because I know more than any man alive about music.' Maybe this isn't an exact quote, but it's the essence of it.' This incident is indicative of Brubeck's strong willed character. His extreme individualism … served Brubeck to make it in [the] jazz world" (program notes by Joop Visser, p. 5).

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