Brubeck Brothers Quartet w/ Camille Thurman

Chris and Dan Brubeck have been making music together practically all their lives. Drummer Dan and bassist, trombonist, and composer Chris cut their first record together in 1966— more than a half century ago. They’ve subsequently played a variety of styles in a number of different groups, as well as with their father, jazz giant Dave Brubeck, and with their own Brubeck Brothers Quartet. With Dan and Chris as the foundation, guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb, complete this dynamic quartet. They perform at concert series, colleges, and jazz festivals across North America and Europe including the Newport, Detroit, Montreal, Playboy/Hollywood Bowl, and Monterey Jazz Festivals. The Quartet's last cd, TimeLine, celebrated Dave Brubeck's famous 1958 State Department tour. The CD received extensive airplay in major jazz markets across America and was a hit on the Jazz Week radio charts for five months. The CD garnered dozens of stellar reviews, among them Dr. Judith Schlesinger of AllAboutJazz who wrote of TimeLine, “An exciting ride. These are magnificent players whose years together have forged a seasoned and well-oiled musical unit... Their joy in this playing, and each other, is audible. Apart from its historic value—this is an exciting and varied outing, recorded crisply and with great warmth. The "Timeline" it reflects is not just in years, but also in a legacy which—lucky for all of us—continues its powerful forward movement today.”

These versatile musicians also collaborate with orchestras all across the U.S. as well as internationally. With Chris Brubeck’s compositions as a vehicle, the BBQ has performed with chamber/orchestral groups such as the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Russian National Symphony Orchestra and the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.

Although the Quartet’s style is rooted in “straight-ahead” jazz, their concerts reveal an inherent ability to explore and play odd time signatures while naturally integrating the influences of funk, blues and world music. The group’s creativity, technique and improvisation can be heard in their uncompromising music, which reflects their dedication to melody, rhythm, culture and the spontaneous spirit of jazz. For more information, see www.brubeckbrothers.com

Remember the name Camille Thurman. As an accomplished composer, esteemed saxophonist, vocalist, and unique interpreter of the jazz tradition, she is quickly becoming one of the leading standard bearers of the art form. Her distinct musical approach to classic and original repertoire, which highlights her craft as a powerhouse singer and instrumentalist, is a captivating blend of tradition and innovation. She makes a considerable and dynamic contribution to the legacy of jazz while paying tribute to its heroes through her music. 

Thurman was chosen by the U.S. State Department under the Fulbright Scholarship grant to tour and perform in Paraguay and Nicaragua as a bandleader. She was recently selected by American Music Abroad and the U.S. State Department to tour and perform in Africa as a U.S. Cultural Ambassador in Cameroon, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, and Mauritania. In May 2020, Camille founded “The Haven Hang: Young Lioness Musician Q&A/ Virtual Mentorship Series.” The Haven Hang serves as a virtual and in-person mentorship series for young women musicians, with an initiative to mentor, aid, and support young women pursuing music careers in the performing arts. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Performance at McGill University. Visit https://www.camillethurmanmusic.com/bio to read her full bio. 

Consider arriving early and joining us in the Sacred Journey, the College's annual observance focused on the giving voice to the enslaved persons who helped build St. Mary's City but have been largely forgotten in our history. Gather at the Commemorative to Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland at 4:45 for a program of music, spoken word performance, the Procession of Dignity, and a candlelit Reading of Names and libation ceremony.

For the benefit of those attending the performance, there will be a reception immediately following the libation ceremony at the waterfront.