The Spice of Life

- BACKSTAGE -

May 2006 - Issue 13

Jazz - Recommended Gig:

Darius Brubeck

Darius Brubeck is the Director of the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music and Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Natal, Durban. In 1983 he initiated the first degree course in Jazz Studies offered by an African University.

Before 1983, Brubeck toured internationally with Two Generations of Brubeck and The New Brubeck Quartet (Dave, Darius, Chris and Dan Brubeck), made TV appearances and recorded for Atlantic Records. Brubeck and Victor Ntoni formed Afro Cool Concept in 1989 and this band has performed in the USA, Italy, Thailand and all over Southern Africa. Brubeck has given workshops worldwide and performed in Istanbul, Peru, and Sweden with University based bands. One of these bands, Darius Brubeck and the NU Jazz Connection featured South African trumpet player Feya Faku.

Under another band name, Gathering Forces, Brubeck often plays with virtuoso bansuri (Indian flute) player, Deepak Ram. Brubeck has performed with the London Symphany Orchestra, which played four of his arrangements as part of a programme honouring his father, Dave Brubeck's, 70th and 75th birthday concert celebrations.

In 1999/2000 Brubeck was on a Fellowship at the University of Nottingham where he hosted a jazz concert series. He has presented jazz on national radio and has worked for the development of jazz in South Africa as a performer, producer, educator and composer.

The Spice of Life is honoured to host Darius Brubeck on the 4th May.