Jon De Lucia’s Dave Brubeck Octet Project

Jon De Lucia is bringing his all star octet in to perform the rarely heard early work of the Dave Brubeck Octet. This composers’ collective was formed in 1946 when Brubeck, along with future stars Paul Desmond and Cal Tjader were students in San Francisco. De Lucia has unearthed the original parts for the Octet, and has spent the past year cleaning them up and expanding the arrangements to make a new recording of the music, the first in 74 years. 

Jon De Lucia is a Brooklyn-based saxophonist, clarinetist and composer. Originally from Quincy, MA, he moved to New York City in 2005 and has since led numerous bands and released six albums as a leader. Critic Ted Gioia said of De Lucia’s latest release, And The Stars Were Shining: “Savor these bittersweet performances, where drums are banished and melody takes front and center stage—maybe even the backstage too.” He is a Professor in the Jazz Department at the Borough of Manhattan Community College.