Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Dave Brubeck, RIP


One of my all-time favorite songs, and many of his others are almost as good. I don't know if I was the only first-grader in our little Texas town listening to "Take Five" when it came out, but there couldn't have been many of us. Rest in peace, Mr. Brubeck. Your music meant an awful lot to so many of us.

6 comments:

Todd Mason said...

"Take Five" was a "head" arrangement, that the band basically came up with collectively as a drum solo showcase, and Paul Desmond was credited with the composition. So, it became their biggest commercial success by some distance. Desmond left in his will the subsequent royalties to the Red Cross.

Rick Robinson said...

It's a great tune, and the first time I heard it I went out and bought the album. I listened to it over and over, damn near wore it out.

Hank Brown said...

I've still got "Take Five" on a 45 (remember those?) in addition to another version on CD. Fantastic tune, though the break just doesn't seem to fit the rest of it.

Besides that and the original "Mission Impossible" theme, I can't think of any other music set to 5/4 time.

David Cranmer said...

Amen. RIP, Mr. Brubeck.

James Reasoner said...

I had that album on vinyl, 8-track, CD, and now it's on both of my computers. I suspect I'll be listening to it now and then as long as I'm around.

Todd Mason said...

Hank Brown--the Brubeck Quartet recorded other compositions in 5/4, and other bands followed that lead. DBQ's "Far More Blue" and "Far More Drums," for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dLmvit2UCc

The version of "Take Five" on the 45 was edited down from the album version...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yK6kXSqB2k